Insights

Investing in your 20s is an excellent way to prepare for a secure financial future. You’ll also have the benefit of time to diversify your investments, which can help you manage risk. Investing in your 20s also gives you the opportunity to save for short-term and long-term goals, like buying a home or saving for retirement.

We are pleased to announce the return of our summer hours! Howland Capital will close at 1:00 pm on Fridays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This effort is to promote a healthy work/life balance for our hardworking team.

Trusts can be a great planning tool for all sorts of circumstances, particularly now with the ability to create very flexible trusts. With tax season upon us, it seems like an appropriate time to describe the tax implications of one type of irrevocable trust called a grantor trust, sometimes referred to as an intentionally defective grantor trust (IDGT).

With the rapid increase in short-term interest rates, we are finding better opportunities to earn income from the fixed income component of portfolios. In fact, the yield on short maturity bonds currently exceeds that on intermediate and long maturity bonds. This phenomenon exists because the yield curve is inverted, as investors predict short rates will fall in the coming years as the Fed eventually shifts from a tightening to an easing policy.

It was a tumultuous quarter for global equity markets, punctuated by elevated inflation, an increasingly high stakes war in Ukraine, and the sudden and shocking threat of a good, old fashioned banking crisis. And to think, we still have three quarters of the year left!

Will the rapid rise in interest rates push the economy into recession this year? Though not certain, it seems increasingly likely. Following an increase of 2.1% in 2022, growth is slowing this year. In March, the Federal Reserve (Fed) revised their estimates for GDP growth to 0.4% for 2023, and 1.2% for 2024. These figures are close to stalling speed.

Women in the United States have had a long and complex financial history. Women have been on the front lines for centuries, from the early days of struggling to gain economic autonomy to the modern-day fight for equal pay and financial security. Despite significant progress in recent decades, the financial landscape for women is still far from equal. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the financial history of women, it is important to consider the major milestones, key trends, and ongoing challenges that women face today.

We are sharing our perspective on the recent news that Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) entered FDIC receivership on Friday. The rapidity with which this occurred surprised the market, as it was a highly unusual action taken by the regulators. A few points and action items are worth noting.

A bear market—or down market—is defined as asset prices declining by at least 20% over two months or more (as opposed to a bull market, in which prices rise by at least 20%). Bear markets occur during periods of anticipated economic weakness when investors are feeling less than optimistic about the state of the market. So, what should you do as an investor during a bear market? Below, we explore tried-and-true methods for weathering an economic downturn and discuss options to consider based on your personal finances, investment habits, and appetite for risk.