“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet” – Romeo & Juliet, Act II, Scene II Headlines have debated the timing and probability of a recession all year as economic activity has slowed down. There are plenty of culprits to point to — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, persistent high inflation, the Fed’s interest rate trajectory, geopolitical uncertainties in…

Personal independence and self-sufficiency are core elements of our national narrative. Although a high value is placed on these characteristics, our lives regularly rely on the support of others. In the financial realm, this “reliance” often means assembling a team of people to ensure you have support and resiliency when…

A reflection on the power of art in creating connection Seven years ago, we hosted the first art exhibit in our office gallery on Solano Avenue. The exhibits were born out of a shared love and appreciation for art, providing an opportunity for us to embrace our local community and…

Market Commentary for Q2 2022 In our hyper-connected world, the constant deluge of information and 24/7 news cycles anchor our collective focus in the noise of the present moment. Abundant data and ease of communication across continents are benefits of the information age, but the cacophony can obscure narratives with…

Stock market indices in the United States managed to climb higher this week as investors received news of incremental progress during peace talks in Ukraine and clear policy updates from the Fed. Despite these gains, progress has been uneven in the geopolitical sphere and in financial markets; we expect that…

The shock waves of war are working outwards from Ukraine, and like past geopolitical events and natural disasters, they have both personal and financial impacts. The apparent financial chaos created by sanctions and shutdowns is unnerving and difficult to make sense of. It is a challenge to sit still when…

Stocks fell further this week as Fed officials clearly signaled a March rate hike and stories of inflation continued to dominate headlines. Investors are recalibrating expectations for a period of slower earnings growth and higher interest rates. When we first wrote about The Impact of Interest Rates on Everything early…

The tremendous energy for racial justice that we’ve seen in the last eighteen months has created a strong foundation for investment managers to build on in their existing advocacy efforts. They engage with the companies in their portfolios with an intention to create long-term change, and not just respond to…

“To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.” – George Santayana January brings the annual tradition of envisioning the year ahead. For individuals, this often includes New Year’s resolutions to change patterns in their personal lives. In…