Author Archive

Market Update and Economic Developments April saw a sharp rebound in equities following March’s geopolitics-driven selloff, as easing concerns around energy supply disruptions and strong corporate earnings growth lifted markets broadly. With earnings season in full swing, year-over-year Q1 earnings growth is on pace to increase by approximately 27%. Large cap equities led the recovery [...]

Taxation of Special Needs Trusts Key Planning Considerations for 2026 Administering a special needs trust means more than following the rules. It’s about making thoughtful decisions that balance taxes with long-term benefit protection. Special needs trusts (SNTs) are designed to do something very specific: Preserve assets while protecting access to means-tested benefits. But from a […]

April 16, 2026

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by: Mktgsr

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Categories: Life Planning, Special Needs Planning

Market Update and Economic Developments March saw a relatively dramatic pullback in equities across geographies, with the S&P 500 recording nearly a 5% loss for the month and international stocks down more than double domestic stocks. Much of this stress on the market can be attributed to the war in Iran and the closure of [...]
    The rapidly evolving conflict in Iran has had major short-term ramifications on commodity prices, expectations for inflation and Federal Reserve action, and the stock market in recent weeks. Crude oil prices have spiked with the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.  While the US is now a net exporter of oil, a supply [...]

What Is a Trust Protector? When families create a trust, they name a trustee to manage the assets and carry out the instructions in the trust document. Sometimes, they also name a trust protector. A trust protector is a person or company given specific powers to make sure the trust continues to work as intended. […]

March 11, 2026

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by: Mktgsr

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Categories: Life Planning, Special Needs Planning

Market Update and Economic Developments The S&P 500 posted a modest decline of -0.76% in February, with the index finishing roughly flat year-to-date at 0.68%. Technology and Consumer Discretionary were notable laggards, as investor rotation away from high valuation growth stocks accelerated late in the month amid renewed uncertainty over artificial intelligence and elevated valuations. [...]

Supported Decision-Making: Help Without Taking Control Supported Decision-Making (SDM) is a way for people with disabilities to make their own decisions with help from people they trust. The key idea is simple: Needing help does not mean losing the right to choose. SDM supports independence, dignity, and participation in everyday life. What Is Supported Decision-Making? […]

February 20, 2026

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by: Mktgsr

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Categories: Life Planning, Special Needs Planning

Market Update and Economic Developments • Equity markets started 2026 with strong positive momentum, supported by a notable expansion in leadership across regions and market capitalizations. U.S. equities advanced in January with large cap stocks rising 1.45% while mid- and small-cap materially outpaced their larger peers, gaining 3.06% and 5.35%, respectively. Early month volatility weighed [...]

February 11, 2026

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by: Mktgsr

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Categories: Investment Thinking, Markets & Economy, Stock & Bond Markets

The 2026 Turning Point: Why New Federal Thresholds Require a New Fiduciary Mindset 2026 begins not with fanfare, but with quiet recalibration. A 2.8 percent Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) may seem unremarkable in headline terms, yet for practitioners who administer Special Needs Trusts (SNTs), it is consequential. This modest change ripples through every assumption [...]

January 12, 2026

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by: Mktgsr

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Categories: Investment Thinking, Markets & Economy, Stock & Bond Markets