To Inform:  I recently read a research report which looked at longer-term trends in the financial markets. The report struck me because the trends are not necessarily in-line with recent market leadership, but if the trends assert themselves in the years ahead, it would have meaningful implications for portfolio construction. First is the value of […]

To Inspire: Parker J. Palmer (no relation) is an author and founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal. He recently reflected on his life as he gets older and leaves his professional work behind. Regardless of age, what he shares below are some pearls of great wisdom for all of us: In recent years […]

To Inform: Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River in 49 BC, ultimately cementing his role as Dictator Perpetuo of the Roman Republic. Some sources say that before crossing Caesar said alea iacta est (“the die is cast”). Many are wondering with the ratings agency Fitch’s downgrade of US government debt this week if the US […]

To Inspire:   Rosie Grant picked up an unusual hobby during the COVID lockdown in 2020, one that she’s still doing and it’s bringing her some viral fame. Grant bakes recipes found on gravestones. Grant was studying library science and a class had her create a social media account to learn how networks work. At […]

To Inform: We’ve been hearing a lot of questions and concerns about real estate from clients and friends. It may have something to do with some of the headlines in the media. The crux of the concern is reflected in these recent magazine covers:   With so many office buildings in major cities sitting with […]

To Inspire: Last Tuesday, I was privileged to host a group of our women clients and friends for a day at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. We spent that day with 40 women, many of whom have been incarcerated for many years. They are part of a program called Embark, offered in that […]

To Inform: 41 years ago, when the UK punk rock band The Clash released their most famous single, 30-year fixed mortgage rates here stateside were 16.7%. While current mortgage rates are not remotely close to those of 1982, many would-be movers are still echoing the line so artfully sung by Mick Jones. In that angsty […]

To Inspire: “The ‘personal vocation’ is, in fact, the secret of unity and integration at the heart of a whole life.”  – Father Herbert Alphonso, S.J What is a vocation? Many people assume that their vocation resides solely in their profession. Scott Waalkes dissects the idea that work equals vocation in his paper, Rethinking Work […]

To Inform: I had a dream the other night. I owned a DeLorean with a fully functioning flux capacitor and felt a strong urge to go back to 2013 and buy some real estate. In my dream, my wife asked me “what about interest rates?” I told her, “Honey, where we’re going there aren’t any […]

To Inspire:   Allisen Corpuz found herself on the biggest and most beautiful stage in women’s golf last weekend and made it look like a stroll on the beach. Never mind that she had never won on the LPGA Tour or that she had heard all week about the historic occasion of the U.S. Women’s Open […]