Announcing “ViewPoints”!
With our approaching 20th Anniversary and the recent launch of our new website, Allen Trust Company continues to reaffirm our dedication to servicing our clients in the best way possible.
ViewPoints, formerly Investment Update, is broadening our themes of this monthly newsletter. It will continue to bring you important financial updates, but also offer reflections on trust portfolio planning, tax implications and a full range of fiscal topics.
Stuart Allen, the President & CEO, kicks off our inaugural ViewPoints, with his insights on our growth and continued commitment of excellence to our clients and community.
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Collectibles: what to do with all this stuff?
Whether you are a connoisseur of fine art or you just can’t let go of your 1990s baseball cards like Allen Trust Company’s Tax Specialist, Stephen Paul, we all have a penchant for accumulating stuff over the years. This month, Stephen considers what us collectors should be looking out for.
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The Three Ds: Disruption, Discontent and Deceleration
Should investors fear the 3 Ds given the volatility of the equity markets and decline in interest rates over the last six months? This month Allen Trust Company’s Chief Investment Officer, Julie Bryan, considers the shorter-term and longer-term implications.
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Should You Buy into Your Vacation Home Dreams?
As we watch the rain and snow fall in the doldrums of winter, our thoughts often turn to sunnier days and second homes by the sea or the mountains. This month Allen Trust Company’s Director of Financial Planning, Allison Grebe Lee, suggests topics to consider when dreaming of buying a vacation home.
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Risk Off, Risk On – Navigating A More Volatile Market
Much of the uptick in volatility experienced in early 2018 continued into the end of the year and remains a factor in early 2019. Our Portfolio Manager Julio Quinteros addresses the increase in volatility as the market shifts away from a synchronized global growth view to one that is now navigating a variety of global risk factors.
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2019: Is the Economic Cycle Turning Downward?
The Yield Curve, The U.S. Budget Deficit, Market Volatility and Asset Valuations, and Differentiation: Year-End 2018 provided significant insights into the implications and opportunities for financial assets in 2019. Our Senior Portfolio Manager Julie Bryan addresses the question: Is the Economic Cycle Turning Downward?
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Three Level Chess: What Next For The Financial Markets?
2018 has been a year of transition. Federal Reserve "policy normalization", geopolitics, and the outlook for corporate profit growth are acting in concert to generate disconcerting volatility in the financial markets. This month Allen Trust Company’s Senior Portfolio Manager Julie Bryan discusses our views on the financial markets for 2019.
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Tax Planning and the Holiday Spirit
The Holidays are upon us, which means tax season is right around the corner. This month, Allen Trust Company's Tax Specialist, Stephen Paul, prepares us for both of his favorite seasons.
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Rising Interest Rates Will Continue to Challenge Market Returns
Despite a more tenuous global backdrop, the prospects for the U.S. economy remain positive and supports the case for higher interest rates. A higher interest rate backdrop will likely result in further market volatility as stock valuation expectations adjust to interest rate moves. This month, Julio Quinteros discusses a rising interest rate environment as a significant variable that limits market returns, and could spill into other areas of the U.S. economy.
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What to do with my low basis stock?
Private investors in the United States hold an estimated $6.1 trillion in unrealized capital gains. But why? Taxes, of course! This month, Allen Trust Company’s Tax Specialist, Stephen Paul, discusses the options available to owners of low basis stock and other highly appreciated assets.
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Risks to the Global Economy Tilting to the Downside
While the current global economic expansion is estimated to reach 3.9% for 2018 and 2019, the medium-term risks are moving to the forefront. This month Allen Trust Company’s Senior Portfolio Manager, Julie Bryan discusses the implications of global divergences.
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Despite Sustained Global Growth Expectations, Equity Markets Diverge
Despite a noisy backdrop, at the midway point in 2018, U.S. equity indices are leading their global counterparts. This month Allen Trust Company’s Portfolio Manager, Julio C. Quinteros, Jr. discusses the recent divergence in performance between U.S. and international markets, with a focus on year-to-date weakness in emerging equity markets.
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Social Security Trustees Annual Report: Tempest in a Teacup?
The 2018 Social Security Trustees Annual Report was recently released and the news media outlets have been in overdrive reporting on the findings. This month Allen Trust Company’s Financial Planner, Allison Grebe Lee, discusses the recently released Social Security Trustees Annual Report and answers a few questions about what it all means.
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U.S. Economic Growth Undeterred
Notwithstanding the potential economic risks, both U.S. and global manufacturing output have remained in a solid long-run growth trend, and U.S. inflation has remained modest.
This month Allen Trust Company’s Senior Portfolio Manager, Julie Bryan, CFA, discusses U.S. economic trends and views on asset allocation.
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IRA Tax Planning – RMDs, Donations, and Roth Conversions
The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has created several new challenges and opportunities. This month Allen Trust Company’s Tax Specialist, Stephen Paul, CPA, discusses the Act and some of the implications for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), charitable donations, and Roth IRA conversions.
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Increase Volatility Creates Investment Opportunities
Through the first half of March it is now clear that increased volatility in financial markets is a constant to take into account and balance as part of our investment considerations. While we acknowledge that risk factors are higher, volatility on its own does not give us pause. We remain focused on long-term investment opportunities. This month, Julio Quinteros discusses the rise in volatility and resulting ebb and flow of markets. Despite higher volatility, we remain grounded in our investment approach.
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2018 Outlook: Lightning Strikes
2018 has begun with increasing volatility in the financial markets. Global economic growth has increased at the same time that upside interest rate risk is rumbling. This creates both opportunities and increasing risks around the world. While volatility in the financial markets was subdued in 2017, 2018 has begun with a bang. This month, Julie Bryan discusses some of the levers that may drive continued volatility in the equity and fixed income markets going forward.
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Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
Join Allison Grebe Lee as she dips into the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Highlighted topics include the new estate tax exclusion, gift tax exclusion, charitable donations, and 529 plan changes. In addition, an expansion to the Allen Trust Company/Allen Capital Management tax team is announced in this month’s issue.
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Blockchain’s Rise Should Benefit Select Tech Names
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies have entrenched themselves as front and center topics that are reaching an ever broader audience as new highs in cryptocurrency values are breached. Although crypto assets receive headline attention, we see the underlying blockchain technology as the more important driver for long-term investments in tech.
This month, Julio Quinteros discusses the rapid ascent of crypto assets and blockchain. His focus is on the long-term impact that blockchain could have on Tech investments.
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