Click here to view the pdf version "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."  — Winston Churchill  The below article on charitable giving was recently published in Barron’s. I thought it made sense to pass this along to clients and friends who may be considering making charitable donations before year end. ***** The Best Way to Maximize Charitable Tax Deductions in 2026? Give in 2025.   By Brandon Smith, Director of Estate Planning at Laird Norton

Click here to view the pdf version A Solid Quarter It was a solid third quarter as most equity asset classes finisher higher, supported by strong corporate earnings, steady economic growth and benign inflation data. Financial markets were also pleased about a more dovish Federal Reserve which lowered the benchmark interest rate by 0.25% in September.   For the second quarter, the S&P 500 was up +8.1%, US Small Cap was up +12.5%, International Developed was up +4.5% and Emergi

Click here to view the pdf version “The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring...

Click here to view the pdf version “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.” —Mark Twain For this...

Click here to view the pdf version Investors Emboldened by a More Flexible Trade Policy The second quarter got off to a volatile start...

Click here to view the pdf version “The one who follows the crowd, will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone is...

Click here to view the pdf version “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”  – Mark Twain Keep it simple. This...

Click here to view the pdf version There’s No Place for Certainty in the World of Investing The first quarter of 2025 was a challenging...

Click here to view the pdf version “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs ... If you can wait and not be tired...

Click here to view the pdf version “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn” – Hal Borland It has been a busier than usual...

Click here to view the pdf version Solid Returns on the Back of a Resilient US Economy   The markets closed out 2024 on a mixed note. The...

Click here to view the pdf version “Man is the only animal that blushes – or needs to.” – Mark Twain Since election day, the U.S. equity...

Click here to view the pdf version “Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon in the sense that it is and can be produced...

Click here to view the pdf version The Everything Rally There was a lot for investors to like in the third quarter as most asset classes...

Click here to view the pdf version “Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other...

Click here to view the pdf version “Often when you are at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers...

Click here to view the pdf version AI Frenzy Powered Stocks Higher    The excitement surrounding artificial intelligence showed no signs...

Click here to view the pdf version “It takes a great man to give sound advice tactfully, but a greater to accept it graciously.” - Logan...

Click here to view the pdf version “Make everything as simple as possible but not simpler.” – Albert Einstein Many professionals naively...

Global stock markets kicked off 2024 on a high note, delivering solid returns across major indexes.