Market Commentary

The Warsh Era: Less Fed, More Market Volatility

A lot has changed in the financial markets over the last seven months, including the transition to the Warsh Federal Reserve era. When President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair at the beginning of the year, there was wide anticipation that Warsh would be hawkish and narrowly focused, prioritizing […]

Market Commentary

The Warsh Era: Less Fed, More Market Volatility

A lot has changed in the financial markets over the last seven months, including the transition to the Warsh Federal Reserve era. When President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair at the beginning of the year, there was wide anticipation that Warsh would be hawkish and narrowly focused, prioritizing […]

Perspectives Blog, Wealth Planning Category

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®
Company News, Featured In

2021 Financial Advisor RIA Survey Recognition for Clifford Sw

Clifford Swan has been recognized in the 2021 Financial Advisor RIA Survey, an annual ranking of independent advisory firms across the United States. This year’s survey lists the firm as the 20th largest registered investment adviser in California. The rankings are based on participating independent firms that satisfy Financial Advisor magazine’s eligibility criteria, including SEC […]

Clifford Swan
Perspectives Blog, Market Commentary Category

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
Perspectives Blog, Market Commentary Category

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
Perspectives Blog, Wealth Planning Category

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
Perspectives Blog, Market Commentary Category

Quarterly Insights: April 2021

We have come a long way in the last twelve months. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, concerned governments around the world closed large portions of their economies, restricting commerce and the socialization of their citizens. The commensurate economic recession was one of the shortest on record, as the monetary authorities (Central Banks), stepped aggressively […]

Clifford Swan
Perspectives Blog, Investment Management Category

Long-Term Investors Cannot Ignore ESG

It’s no secret that ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) investing is more than a passing fad. ESG investors select companies with a focus on how the business impacts the environment, manages relationships with employees, customers, partners, and communities, and maintains fair and transparent corporate governance. These criteria matter to the investing public, which over the past […]

Daniel J. Mintz
Perspectives Blog, Market Commentary Category

Is Your Portfolio Prepared for 2021?

Investors in the United States have endured a tremendous amount of turbulence in 2020. We have experienced a large-scale worldwide pandemic for the first time in over a century; a highly contested presidential election; social unrest; a record quarterly drop in gross domestic product; and a sharp, fast decline in stock prices followed by a […]

Roger L. Gewecke, Jr., CFA
Perspectives Blog, Market Commentary Category

Quarterly Insights: January 2021

Calendar year 2020 is over, and it will be one for the history books. The COVID-19 global pandemic, combined with a contentious presidential race and a polarized electorate, deeply affected our investment markets, economy, political landscape, and personal lives. The past 12 months were exceptionally challenging in many ways, and yet, looking ahead to the […]

Clifford Swan
Perspectives Blog, Market Commentary Category

Putting 2020 Behind Us and Looking Towards 2021

We can all agree that 2020 has been anything but an ordinary year. In March, the U.S. and much of the world went into lockdown due to the escalation of COVID cases, hospitalizations, and, unfortunately, deaths. Consumer and business spending plummeted, and economic growth dramatically declined by 20% during the first half of the year. […]

Randall L. Zaharia, CFA, CAIA®
Perspectives Blog, Wealth Planning Category

Goodbye to the Stretch-IRA and Hello to Testamentary Charitable Gift Annuities and Testamentary Charitable Remainder Trusts

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act) that went into effect at the beginning of 2020 aims to expand, preserve, and encourage retirement savings*. Surviving spouse of the deceased owner, Minor child of the deceased owner, Disabled person, Chronically ill person, and a Person that is not more than ten years younger […]

Kenneth H. Dike
Perspectives Blog, Market Commentary Category

Quarterly Insights: October 2020

This is the third quarterly commentary in which the coronavirus takes center stage. The pandemic has impacted our society, economy, health, markets, politics, and all levels of government. We do not know the longer-term impact of the shutdown on businesses, whether additional fiscal stimulus will be provided, the outcome of the November elections, nor the […]

Clifford Swan

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