Market Insights – Fourth Quarter 2025
Dichotomies and Bifurcations After consecutive years of strong returns, global stock markets were expected to take a breather and slow down in 2025. Those expectations seemed to be on track during the first two quarters. After a solid start to the year, prospects of a global trade war raised the specter of a recession and […]
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 […]
Whittier Trust Leadership Recognized by the Orange County Business Journal’s OC500 List
Whittier Trust is honored to announce that two of our distinguished leaders, Greg E. Custer and Dr. James “Jim” Doti, have once again been selected for the Orange County Business Journal’s OC500 Directory of Influence. Curated annually, the OC500 highlights the most impactful leaders, innovators, and change-makers shaping Orange County’s business landscape. This recognition underscores […]
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 […]
Sandip Bhagat Breaks Down the Resilience and Sustainability of the U.S. Economy on Nasdaq TradeTalks
Whittier Trust’s Chief Investment Officer joined Nasdaq experts and the Head of Macroeconomic Research & Market Strategy at Guggenheim in an in-depth conversation on earnings growth tailwinds, the implications of a bifurcated economy, and whether or not we’re in an AI bubble. Although the first half of 2025 was rattled by trade fears, uneven consumer […]
Whittier Trust Makes History as the First U.S. Company Recognized by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) as a Platinum Employer Partner
This prestigious designation celebrates Whittier Trust’s global leadership in developing top-tier trust and estate advisors and sets a new benchmark for client-focused professional excellence. Pictured: Greg Custer, Jeff Aschieris, Philip Cook, as well as Ejike Agubor and Rob Thompson with STEP Whittier Trust, the oldest multifamily office headquartered on the West Coast, today announced a historic achievement: the wealth management company has […]
Whittier Trust Recognized as One of the Best Places for Women to Work in Northern Nevada
Whittier Trust’s Reno office honored by Nevada Women’s Fund for creating an empowering workplace culture and advancing opportunities for women through education, purpose-driven work, and family-first values. The Whittier Trust Company of Nevada has been recognized by the Nevada Women’s Fund (NWF) as one of the Best Places for Women to Work in Northern Nevada […]
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 […]
Expanding Possibilities: Investment Residency in New Zealand
Executive Vice President Whit Batchelor joined a panel of industry experts to share insights on New Zealand residency options. Whittier Trust recently hosted a webinar examining the growing interest among American families in New Zealand residency — a trend that has surged more than 100%. The discussion explored how New Zealand’s political stability, wealth planning […]
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. […]