Investment Management

The Rise of the Invisible Economy

The investment industry has come a long way, offering Americans more ways than ever to build wealth. But the rise of alternatives—once the exclusive domain of institutions and the ultra-wealthy—has made it more difficult to cut through the noise and identify what matters. We’ve developed a framework to help. For most of our country’s history, […]

Investment Management

The Rise of the Invisible Economy

The investment industry has come a long way, offering Americans more ways than ever to build wealth. But the rise of alternatives—once the exclusive domain of institutions and the ultra-wealthy—has made it more difficult to cut through the noise and identify what matters. We’ve developed a framework to help. For most of our country’s history, […]

3 Pillars for a Happy Retirement

Clifford Swan partner Lloyd Wong recently spoke on this topic as a guest on gerontologist Mary Winners’ “Visionary Aging” podcast.What do a fitness tracking device, a budget, and an appointment calendar have in common? They are all tools to motivate you and monitor your progress towards securing a successful retirement. “We believe it is best […]

Lloyd K. Wong, CFA

Quarterly Insights: January 2022

A new year has arrived, along with renewed hope and determination for a better future. Our thoughts are with those grappling with the physical, social, and emotional effects of the current surge in Covid-19 cases.Looking back on the past year from an economic and investment perspective, 2021 provided robust economic growth and strong gains in […]

Clifford Swan

Searching for Opportunity

As we approach year-end, it’s natural to reflect on the investment year that was and, more importantly, consider where to find investment opportunities going forward. Given domestic stocks have performed exceptionally in 2021, investors are increasingly interested in the outlook for equity returns globally. Stocks have come a long way since the depths of the […]

Anil Kapoor, CFA

Different Ways to Give

Philanthropy is top-of-mind for many of our clients during the holiday season. In this theme, we are pleased to republish an article that Ken Dike, our Executive Director of Planned Giving Services, wrote for one of our nonprofit clients. Ken explains the differences between charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts and answers common questions […]

Kenneth H. Dike

Quarterly Insights: October 2021

The U.S. economy continues its recovery from early 2020. However, economic indicators point to a slowing rate of growth. Estimates for annual GDP growth for 2021 have come down from 6-8% to around 5.5%. Currently, intense negotiations for additional fiscal stimulus are occurring in our country’s capital and we expect that a substantial stimulus package […]

Clifford Swan

Message from the CEO – August 2021

Looking back on my first year serving as CEO, the theme of the year has been resiliency. Covid has presented so many individual and collective challenges. I am extremely proud of the Clifford Swan team for their adaptability, support of one another, and unwavering commitment to our clients. There was (and still is) a true […]

Peter J. Boyle, CFA

Long Day’s Journey into Night

Two features define the current economic and financial market backdrop. The first and most obvious is the significant increase in government involvement in both areas. Second, and as a direct result of the first, the world is awash in liquidity. By liquidity we mean that cheap money is available to almost anyone who seeks it, […]

Kevin J. Cavanaugh

Does Cryptocurrency Belong in Your Portfolio?

Cryptocurrencies have entered the mainstream. What began as a white paper written by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008, titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System,” has morphed into several cryptocurrencies currently valued at approximately $2 trillion dollars. Bitcoin is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency and is gaining momentum worldwide. In fact, The President […]

George E. Hasbun, CFP®

Clifford Swan Recognized by Financial Advisor Magazine

Financial Advisor magazine recognizes Clifford Swan in their fifteenth annual ranking of independent advisory firms around the country, ranking Clifford Swan as the 20th largest RIA in California.  RIA firms applied for consideration. To be eligible for the ranking, firms must be independent registered investment advisers, file their own ADV statement with the SEC, and provide financial […]

Clifford Swan

Quarterly Insights: July 2021

Here comes the sun. Across the country, Americans are enjoying summer and the relaxation of Covid restrictions. The optimistic mood extends to very positive economic trends. With widespread vaccination and low case counts, the economy is rebounding strongly and on track for annual GDP growth of 6-8%, the best rate experienced in many years. Pent-up U.S. […]

Clifford Swan

A Playbook for Unprecedented Times

Take yourself back to 2019 when the year was drawing to a close. Imagine being told:2020 will be the year when our hospitals will be overwhelmed, offices will close indefinitely, scores of workers will be sent home and lose their jobs, and the developed world will be on sporadic lockdown. Now, imagine also being told that […]

David Y. Lin, CFA

A New Era in Death and (Estate) Taxes

They say nothing in life is certain, except for death and taxes. While neither is avoidable, there may be certain ways to mitigate the impact of taxes at death. President Joe Biden’s recently proposed “American Family Plan” highlights funding the legislation through increased income and capital gains tax on the wealthiest and highest earning Americans.What […]

Clifford Swan

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