Americans consistently rank among the world’s most generous charitable donors. However, most Americans are not aware of the many vehicles available to maximize the tax benefits of their donations. By

As a high-income earner, you have reached the position where your income exceeds your immediate needs. And most likely you have already taken the important steps of establishing an emergency

Leading up to the recent election, there was much uncertainty about the fate of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 and how to plan for the potential

“History never repeats itself;man, always does.” – Voltaire   In the complex world of financial decision-making, our choices are influenced by psychological biases that can lead to less-than-optimal outcomes. Anchoring,

Depending on what stage you are at in the lifecycle of your business, business succession may have very different meanings. While revenue, expenses, profits, and opportunities for growth will always

Morgan Housel in his book, Psychology of Money, discusses a phenomenon that is the obsession of many but achieved by few: creating significant wealth, as quickly as possible. He says

Warren Buffet once remarked, “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Planting and nurturing a tree to the point that it

All Good Things May Come to an End   The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) received a great deal of attention for providing significant income tax savings

The past few years have presented a chaotic landscape of new rules and regulations related to federal income taxes. The recent passing of SECURE Act 2.0 in late 2022 created

A vital part of comprehensive wealth planning is the estate plan. If you have invested the effort to define your goals, manage your cash flow, and save and invest toward

Are you interested in moving your finances in a different direction in 2023? If so, it is time to plan your trip. And like all trips, your financial journey will

As Thanksgiving approaches, our thoughts often shift to loved ones and our communities. The season of giving also begins with Giving Tuesday taking place the week after Thanksgiving. Many people

In times of stress, our natural reaction is to either run for the hills, fleeing from what threatens us or to freeze and do nothing, choosing to endure and hoping

Critical Actions for Success   Most business owners agree that having a formal transition strategy is important, yet 80% of owners don’t have one. It’s easy to delay the process,

June 2020 Over the past six months, Congress has passed two new laws that affect retirement, charitable giving, and estate planning. The new laws known as the SECURE (Setting Every

April 2020   Mitigation efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 are affecting the daily lives of people around the world. Some 2.6 billion people are now living under government

March 2020   Given recent events, extreme volatility, and understandable concern, we want you to know we are very much present and assessing new information as it becomes available. We

January 2020   The stock market reminded us again this past year that a perfect economy is not required to push stock prices higher. Rather, prices climb on signs of

August 2019   What is one to make of the markets over the past six months? First the stock market fell 20% and bond yields declined, both correctly predicting a

August 2018   The first three quarters of 2019 have produced unexpectedly strong results for bond investors. Slowing global economic growth, declining inflation expectations, and accommodative central bank policies have

August 2018 Investors have shown increasing acceptance of passive investment strategies. Meanwhile, funds that employ active strategies—that is, those with managers who strive to outperform their benchmarks—have lost market share

We all face risks as investors. Stock market volatility, interest rate changes, and permanent loss of capital are just a few of the many risks we confront in pursuit of

April 2018   How much can I spend each year without depleting my portfolio? It’s a question we hear often from clients. While the question is simple, calculating the answer

January 2018   It’s not just people who like to take time off now and then. Apparently, volatility also enjoys some time off—at least that’s what this past year’s stock

October 2017   Before starting this quarter’s discussion, I first want to extend from all of us at Goelzer our heartfelt sympathies to those who have suffered due to the

April 2017   “Higher interest rates may be coming.” That was the forecast we shared on these pages one year ago. Our forecast was based on expectations for higher inflation

January 2017   The U.S. stock market was both a volatile and rewarding place to invest in 2016. Thanks to a sharp year-end rally set off by the U.S. elections,

October 2016 Central bankers across the developed world continue to rely on low or even negative interest rates to spur economic growth. The resulting low returns on bank accounts and

July 2016   The chart below shows both the monthly prices and forward 12-months earnings for the S&P 500 Index since January 2000. What the chart makes clear is the

April 2016   Markets have a way of wearing people down. By moving in one direction or staying within a range over an extended period, markets convince people that the

January 2016   Since the start of the industrial revolution, people have worked to become proficient at mining, manufacturing, financing, and selling all types of goods. It became evident this

November 2015   Many investors are concerned with how to secure a reliable and growing stream of income. At Goelzer Investment Management, we believe the key to meeting your income

October 2015 Volatility is back. The stock market’s mostly smooth climb higher since 2012 was interrupted this past quarter with stock prices, at the worst point, declining by 10% over