In a world shaped by fluctuating currencies, evolving economic landscapes, and unforeseen global events, international investment strategies and asset allocation can become challenging endeavors. It is evident that an understanding of diverse market dynamics is essential for informed decision-making. International markets offer a world of untapped potential, where opportunities prosper for astute investors seeking to diversify and thrive in an ever-changing global landscape. Are you prepared to take advantage of this worldwide market shift?
Publications
Unlocking the Potential of Unused 529 Funds: 7 Smart Strategies
In recent years, our clients have repeatedly raised the question of what to do with the remaining funds in a 529 plan after college. You may be surprised to find yourself with surplus funds in your 529 plan when your child completes college. Unexpected scholarships, attendance at a U.S. military academy, or unexpected gifts or inheritances can lead to this situation. But what happens to those unused 529 funds?
Gaining Valuable Insights From Past Recessions
Since the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset in March of 2020, our economy, capital markets, human psychology, health care concerns, educational approach, work habits and myriad other aspects of the world’s wealth, economic, and societal engine have been challenged in ways nobody could have ever predicted. Conventional wisdom has been challenged on every level around the world and now we find ourselves entering a new calendar year with many unknowns.
Part I: A Historical Perspective of Past Recessions
Part II: Asset Classes Through the Economic Cycle
Part III: Understanding the Current Environment to Make More Informed Decisions
Addressing Multigenerational Success with Family Meetings
Succession planning is crucial for both businesses and families to ensure long-term success. Wealth management should extend beyond financial aspects to include preparing heirs and passing down family values. At The Summa Group, we recognize the growing interest among our clients in expanding the succession planning process to foster individual happiness and family cohesiveness.
A New Era of Higher Education: The Need for Change
The increasing cost of tuition, a change in demand among prospective students, and a lack of work readiness among college graduates have led many parents to question the validity of traditional educational institutions.
If You Own A Business, You Need An Exit Plan Team
For the past several decades, The Summa Group has been working with business owners, attorneys, CPAs, investment bankers and other highly qualified fiduciaries in the field of middle market mergers and acquisitions. The many transaction successes and failures we’ve witnessed over this time have made us a believer that independent professionals must collaborate effectively in order to deliver superior outcomes to clients.
What Lies Ahead in Disruptive Innovation—and How You Can Benefit
These thought pieces begin in 2019, sharing insights about what many believe to be what is the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We continue the discussion about the rapid development in innovation resulting from the convergence of AI, machine learning and Big Data. The most recent 2 parts published this year highlight the pain, disruption and opportunities developing as a result of massive growth post pandemic and now the digestion as we live in a higher interest rate environment, inflated valuations and a more difficult private equity environment.
Part I: The Challenges and the Dislocation
Part II: Dislocations = Opportunities
Innovation, Disruption, and Opportunity
The Industrial Revolution in the 21st Century
Will It Be Different This Time?
How Private
Company
Employees
Can Potentially
Create Liquidity
One of the biggest challenges any company founder faces is the risk associated with an outsized and concentrated equity position in their company. This article provides valuable insights into how founders and other investors in private companies can diversify this holding prior to a sale or IPO.
One of the biggest challenges any company founder faces is the risk associated with an outsized and concentrated equity position in their company. This article provides valuable insights into how founders and other investors in private companies can diversify this holding prior to a sale or IPO.
Hiring a Wealth
Management Team
One of the most important decisions any family or individual will make relates to with whom they will entrust with their wealth and financial lives. This article gives a transparent look under the hood about who someone needs to approach this very challenging process that lacks transparency and is wrought with conflicts of interest.
One of the most important decisions any family or individual will make relates to with whom they will entrust with their wealth and financial lives. This article gives a transparent look under the hood about who someone needs to approach this very challenging process that lacks transparency and is wrought with conflicts of interest.
The Uncertain
Financial Futures
of Athletes and
Entertainers
Demand Training
and Discipline
This article expands on the “Perfect Storm” that often engulfs the professional athlete and entertainment professional who sometimes experience short career spans and unpredictable income streams. Most importantly, it provides a playbook for how to avoid the common mistakes while building a team of highly competent and trustworthy professionals to protect them.
This article expands on the “Perfect Storm” that often engulfs the professional athlete and entertainment professional who sometimes experience short career spans and unpredictable income streams. Most importantly, it provides a playbook for how to avoid the common mistakes while building a team of highly competent and trustworthy professionals to protect them.
Navigating the
Conflicted and
Emotional Stages
of Divorce
through Thoughtful Planning
For anyone who’s been through it, which at last count was about 50% of married couples, Divorce presents a long list of emotional and financial challenges. In this piece, we share how best to navigate the emotional and financial challenges that an “Out Spouse” is confronted with before, during and after the divorce is final.
For anyone who’s been through it, which at last count was about 50% of married couples, Divorce presents a long list of emotional and financial challenges. In this piece, we share how best to navigate the emotional and financial challenges that an “Out Spouse” is confronted with before, during and after the divorce is final.
Demystifying Opportunity Zones
One of the more innovative and opportunistic investment opportunities in many years was created to help targeted areas bring investment capital to improve the quality of their communities. This article provides valuable insights to the investor who is interested in “Opportunity Zones” while receiving significant tax benefits.
Modern
Family Office
The “Family Office” has been for the ultra-wealthy family looking to bring the financial, tax, legal and investment resources under one roof in order to bring scales and cost savings to those involved. This thought piece brings front and center the major developments in this area and how families might look differently at their needs relating to setting up a family office.
The “Family Office” has been for the ultra-wealthy family looking to bring the financial, tax, legal and investment resources under one roof in order to bring scales and cost savings to those involved. This thought piece brings front and center the major developments in this area and how families might look differently at their needs relating to setting up a family office.
The Past,
Present, and
Future of Planning
The Financial Planning industry is vast, confusing and conflicted. This article explores the past, present and future of planning to provide an objective look at what is probably the most important step in building the “safety net” for families and individuals.
The Financial Planning industry is vast, confusing and conflicted. This article explores the past, present and future of planning to provide an objective look at what is probably the most important step in building the “safety net” for families and individuals.
Maximizing Your Philanthropic Impact
This article shares provides insights about the developments in charitable giving and how families can think strategically about creating a lasting legacy for generations to come
Demystifying the
World of Wealth
Management
Through Values and Client Advocacy
We continuously monitor the performance of each portfolio to help ensure expected results. We revisit the key planning assumptions throughout each year in order to identify opportunities to maintain the probability of achieving the plan goals. We then communicate with each family and their other advisors (with the client’s permission) along the way so everyone is informed as to the status of the accounts and recommendations.
We continuously monitor the performance of each portfolio to help ensure expected results. We revisit the key planning assumptions throughout each year in order to identify opportunities to maintain the probability of achieving the plan goals. We then communicate with each family and their other advisors (with the client’s permission) along the way so everyone is informed as to the status of the accounts and recommendations.
Artificial
Intelligence’s
Potential Impacton
the Investment
Management
Industry
Artificial Intelligence is impacting every industry and every aspect of our lives. This article dives into how AI is impacting the financial services community and the PRO’s and CON’s longer term.
Artificial Intelligence is impacting every industry and every aspect of our lives. This article dives into how AI is impacting the financial services community and the PRO’s and CON’s longer term.
Personal Health
Is Your Most
Valuable Asset
What is the most important asset on your “Balance Sheet?” We would argue it’s your health. This article discusses the “how’s and why’s” the current health care system is broken and how families with resources can gain access to a private medical experience that transcends the norm.
What is the most important asset on your “Balance Sheet?” We would argue it’s your health. This article discusses the “how’s and why’s” the current health care system is broken and how families with resources can gain access to a private medical experience that transcends the norm.
Demystifying
the Virtual
Family Office
The Virtual Family Office might be the most cost effective, efficient and powerful way for a family to approach the management of their financial lives. In this article, we share insights learned over 30 years how a family might build out a team of battle tested independent tax, legal and financial advisors who share the common goal of providing their clients with a conflict free and cost efficient solution to their every growing complex lives.
The Virtual Family Office might be the most cost effective, efficient and powerful way for a family to approach the management of their financial lives. In this article, we share insights learned over 30 years how a family might build out a team of battle tested independent tax, legal and financial advisors who share the common goal of providing their clients with a conflict free and cost efficient solution to their every growing complex lives.