Hidden Fees and Hidden Agendas
Who’s benefiting the most from your investments? Many investors choose their financial advisor based on a personal or professional connection. If you’re like most people, you’ve likely stayed with that advisor for years because you trust them, appreciate their guidance, and your portfolio may have even performed well. But even trusted relationships benefit from a […]
Balancing Principles and Performance When Investing
Key considerations for those investing with environmental impact in mind. If you’ve ever felt tension between your investment holdings and your personal values, you’re not alone. Fortunately, doing good doesn’t have to mean sacrificing returns. Most high-net-worth individuals still approach investing from a strictly performance-based perspective. They’re not necessarily looking for portfolios that mirror their […]
Re-Visiting Roth Conversions
A shifting landscape for retirement and estate planning. Planning for Roth conversions has long been a staple in year-end tax planning. Roth conversions involve converting a tax-deferred account, such as a 401(k) or an individual retirement account (“IRA”), into a Roth account. By doing so, any tax-deferred amounts, including principal and associated earnings, are converted […]
The Leadership Imperative
Identifying and onboarding your next-generation executive. A role in the family business isn’t necessarily a birthright. It is, however, a responsibility, and one that requires careful consideration on both sides. It’s possible your children don’t have the same talents and ambitions as you, but they may bring other interests and skills to the table. More […]
How Family Governance Protects Generational Wealth
Clear communication and structure are essential for high-net-worth families to protect their assets. Even the best players need a coach—and a playbook. For ultra-high-net-worth families, that playbook, called family governance, is the key to successfully stewarding wealth and family businesses from one generation to the next. Of course, each family is unique, so there are […]
Plan to Give
Charitable giving strategies in the wake of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The One Big Beautiful Bill (“OBBB”) significantly changed the tax deductibility of charitable contributions in 2026 and onward by introducing two additional limitations for filers who itemize their deductions. The first limitation sets a 0.5% adjusted gross income (“AGI”) floor on deductible contributions. […]
The Wealth Equation: Balancing Money and Stress
Don’t let assets be a liability that strains your family. Ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families have no shortage of options when it comes to who manages their investments. They can engage with a private bank, hire a financial advisor, enlist a multi-family office, or start their own single-family office with dedicated staff. The challenge is finding a […]
Key Observations and Whittier Trust Insights on the “One Big Beautiful Bill”
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law H.R. 1, otherwise known as the One Big Beautiful Bill (“OBBB”), which made permanent many provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”), accelerated the elimination of green energy tax credits introduced as part of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, while delivering targeted tax […]
Beyond Basic Security
Cyber criminals may be targeting you—here are six ways to fight back. In today’s interconnected world, protecting your digital information is vital. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, so staying informed and proactive is the best defense. At Whittier Trust, we take cybersecurity seriously, and we aim to help you maintain your online security and safeguard […]
Sandip Bhagat Explores Market Fundamentals and AI’s Long-Term Impact on Nasdaq TradeTalks
Whittier Trust Chief Investment Officer, Sandip Bhagat, joined Nasdaq experts in a dynamic conversation on market stability, the evolving role of AI in the U.S. economy and how patient, long-term investing can turn short-term market noise into opportunity. While the first half of the year was marked by volatility from trade, tariffs and geopolitical concerns, […]