Equity markets continued their strong upward rise, with US large caps leading the charge. Markets were clearly in risk seeking mode, and equites were not the only asset class to experience significant appreciation, cryptocurrencies continue to race ahead as well. Select commodities also rose significantly including gold, oil and cocoa. FineMark Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano breaks it all down, offering FineMark’s views on risk, opportunities, and what you need to consider as 2024 unfolds.
Read Article Here
Why Wealth Management at FineMark Transcends Stock Picking
Discover how FineMark’s holistic approach to wealth management transcends simple stock picking in our latest article. Trust Administrator, Read Sawczyn, explains how we work closely with our clients to gain a deep comprehensive understanding of their goals and objectives and then we marry our investment services with estate planning and tax planning to ultimately have a successful outcome.
2023 Fourth Quarter Review & Commentary
2023 ended on a high note with stunning bond performance in a reviving stock market. With a U.S. presidential election on the horizon, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano uses historical data to evaluate year-end happenings and ponder what may lie ahead.
Read Article Here
2024 Resolutions and COLA Updates
It’s the start of a new year. We have survived the holidays, reflected on the good and the bad of 2023 (hopefully more good than bad), and are starting on our 2024 resolutions. There are many different new year’s traditions; more common in Florida are parades and fireworks and less common are jumping over seven …
2023 Third Quarter Review & Commentary
The third quarter marked a reversal for equities, which peaked for the year in July and then weakened in August and September. Bonds remain under pressure and did not provide diversification benefits for the traditional 60/40 investor during the quarter. Alternative investments, on the other hand posted positive returns for the period. We also saw a move up in longer term rates for the first time awhile.
Read Article Here
New Federal Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements in 2024
Beginning in 2024, US tax filers will have new obligations to report personal information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Department of the Treasury (“FinCEN”), regarding certain closely held businesses. Failure to report could result in civil and criminal penalties, so it’s important to know if you’re subject to FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Information …
2023 Second Quarter Review & Commentary
While storm clouds remain on the investment horizon, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano explains why savvy investors should focus on the long-term, ignore Wall Street chatter, and be aware of mega trends that develop and impact the economic landscape.
Read Article Here
How Sophisticated Have Online Scams Become?
In our last trust newsletter (Click to read Common Financial Scams and How to Avoid Them), we discussed common financial scams and how to avoid them. Due to the importance of recognizing cyber fraud and how pervasive it has become, we decided to provide some additional information on online fraud to help protect you from …
2023 First Quarter Review & Commentary
Both stock and bond markets move significantly higher during the quarter, making up some of their losses posted in 2022. This, despite continued Fed rate hikes and concerns about liquidity in the banking sector. Please enjoy our latest newsletter where FineMark’s CIO, Chris Battifarano, reviews the quarter and our newest investment theme: How artificial intelligence (AI) will impact the economy in the future.
Common Financial Scams and How to Avoid Them
I know what you’re thinking, “I won’t fall for any of those financial scams I hear about because they are so obvious.” While that may have been true in the past, scammers are continually improving their craft and devising more sophisticated scams. Just as social media employs engineers to increase our use of social media, …
2022 Fourth Quarter Review & Commentary
While 2022 was a challenging year for financial markets, the steady drumbeat of high inflation that dominated headlines appears to be abating and we see reasons to be more optimistic. Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano shares the relevance of “Minsky Moments” in 2022 and FineMark’s informed outlook for 2023 and beyond.
Read Article Here
2022 Year-end Review and 2023 Outlook
While 2022 was a challenging year for financial markets, the steady drumbeat of high inflation that dominated headlines appears to be abating and we see reasons to be more optimistic. CIO Chris Battifarano shares the relevance of “Minsky Moments” in 2022 and FineMark’s informed outlook for 2023 and beyond.