These days, it feels like everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (AI) and how it may impact our lives personally, professionally, and societally. (Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft used the term 65, 57, and 53 times, respectively, in recent quarterly earnings conference calls.)
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The banking failures of 2023 have been dominating headlines for weeks and have prompted many clients to ask about Lowell Blake’s exposure to banks. Our investment strategy intentionally precludes us from investing in companies like banks, and we’d like to explain why.
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The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic added incredible stress to the already fragile US healthcare system. Compounded by (1) the severity of disease caused by early strains of the virus, (2) the US’s initial lackluster response, (3) prior depletions of emergency equipment stockpiles (e.g., N95 respirators) and (4) the high prevalence of comorbidities associated with severe disease and death, the US healthcare system struggled mightily.
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The yield on the benchmark US 10-Year Treasury Note has shown remarkable symmetry for approximately 80 years. It had been trending lower in 1920s and 1930s, the decades preceding WWII, and eventually bottomed out in 1941 at roughly 1.95 percent.
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Recent events in the banking industry have placed a spotlight on the importance of asset protection. There are a number of steps that you should consider to ensure your assets are well protected today and in the future.
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In our spring newsletter, we emphasized the importance of staying invested over the long term by (1) illustrating the outsized impact of the stock market’s best days and (2) explaining how staying invested increases the likelihood of positive returns. While our analysis last spring focused on the broader implications of a long-term strategy, the strategy only works if the security you are holding is a quality company with durable, competitive advantages that drive success in both strong and weak markets.
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Two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth has traditionally signaled that an economy is in a recession. However, in the US, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) is responsible for officially designating recessions. The NBER’s analysis relies on three criteria related to economic trends: depth, diffusion, and duration.
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Over the last decade, we have seen the proliferation of “smart” devices—devices that collect our data and track our usage patterns to enhance our overall experience. There are smart mobile phones, TVs, speakers, and cars, as well as smaller everyday items like toothbrushes, vacuums, and coffee brewers. You may be wondering how all of these products became smart, seemingly overnight. What changed?
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A revocable trust is an estate planning tool designed to manage and protect a grantor’s assets during his or her lifetime. The flexibility and privacy the revocable trust provides makes it an appropriate vehicle for many people. Unlike an irrevocable trust, a revocable trust can be amended, or revoked entirely, at any time during the grantor’s life because the assets remain a part of the grantor’s estate.
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Deciding whether assisted living is right for you or a loved one is no small task. The considerations surrounding a move to assisted living are extensive, and the choices and tradeoffs to be made can be overwhelming. The very first step in the process is to evaluate what kinds of services you need today and to consider what level of care you may need in the future. Some facilities may be able to meet both needs, while others may not.
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