Insights matter.

Considerations for Family Business Succession Our founder, Kathy Lintz, was recently featured in Crain Currency for her perspectives on Rupert Murdoch’s succession battle, the contrasting approach of Warren Buffet, and key considerations in estate planning for multi-generational family wealth. Kathy emphasized the importance of only transferring control of assets that one is truly willing to relinquish and the importance of shared values among family members for successful wealth transfers. The article ultimately underscores the complexities of estate planning for family

One of the trends we spotlighted in our most recent quarterly commentary is the current valuation levels in public equity markets and what it means for forward-looking returns.  There’s no doubt that valuations can remain extended for a prolonged period.  However, history has shown us that markets that start at current levels typically experience lower returns over the ensuing 10 years.  The charts below are from the J.P. Morgan Guide to the Markets, and they highlight two concepts in graphical

The internet has been abuzz due to a stellar performance by Jerry Jones, long-time owner of the Dallas Cowboys, in the hit series Landman. Apparently, this Emmy-worthy monologue took only one try. In the scene, Jerry Jones is talking to his friend Monty, played by Jon Hamm, who has just suffered a heart attack. Monty is a hard-driving oilman who spends little time with his family and enough time managing his business to warrant a fifth heart attack. Jerry’s job

As we step into the new year, it’s natural to pause and reflect on the road behind us while considering what lies ahead. For investors, this moment often brings a flood of market predictions, an annual tradition as enduring as it is flawed. Rather than attempting to predict the unpredictable, our aim is to explore the economic trends, policy shifts and market forces likely to shape the 2025 economic outlook for investors in the months ahead. By focusing on the

People Matter At Matter, we are grateful to work with great families and great team members every day.  We believe that investing in our combined human capital creates a virtuous cycle for all parties. By fostering a people-centric culture of continuous learning and professional advancement, we aim to empower our team members to reach their full potential in serving families for generations. This fall, Matter is thrilled to announce the well-deserved promotion of twelve team members. Their dedication, hard work,

Investment Themes – What Matters? There is no absence of storylines vying for investor attention as we enter the last quarter of the year and review the investment themes. The Fed shifted its policy stance in September and markets are now trying to process the outlook for interest rates in the near term. To make the situation more complicated, we are also less than a month away from elections here in the United States. Despite this, portfolios are faring well

Volatility Ahead Over the first half of the year, we’ve seen a bifurcation of experiences across our three major asset categories: Equities, Bonds and Real Assets.  For equity investors, the story has been the resilience of the economy, the growth of profit margins and the momentum behind AI—evident in Nvidia’s 150%+ return so far in 2024.  Fixed income markets have been comparatively volatile due to the moderation of rate cut expectations and the growing consensus surrounding a higher for longer

The world is an uncertain place—it always has been and always will be. The recent past is a perfect reflection of that reality—a global pandemic, multiple military conflicts, monetary policy shocks, natural disasters, and the list could go on. Yet the power of human ingenuity and the resilience it has helped develop means that we are constantly improving the way in which we face these dynamic challenges. In a period of time when optimism seems scarce and criticism and concerns

How should investors make sense of what is happening in the markets and what is happening across global economies?  It’s admittedly THE million-dollar question.  Short-term interest rates are the highest they’ve been since the global financial crisis in 2008/2009.  As the two charts below illustrate, companies in the US are facing declining profit margins and are taking a cautious approach to future capital expenditures.  Lastly, real estate markets across the US are having to contend with a financing market that

There has been a lot for investors to digest throughout this year—the war in Ukraine, persistently high inflation, one of the fastest rate hiking cycles in history and the residual impact of a globally disjointed COVID response and reopening policy.  The result has been broad-based asset class declines, in which—as the chart below highlights—only commodities and cash have been spared.  The magnitude and the breadth of the decline stand out when viewed through the context of the last decade.  In

Legacy and Learning Matter has recently made a decision that has significant meaning even if the result seems like an insignificant change. We take a comprehensive, integrated approach to managing wealth and have framed this as follows: Investment Management, Wealth Planning & Coordination, and Culture & Legacy. Truth be told, as we have learned more about what makes families successful and thrive, the word legacy does not capture the entirety of this critical aspect. The Oxford Dictionary defines legacy as

As the third quarter draws to a close, we find ourselves in one of the first prolonged down markets since the global financial crisis.  In a way, it is natural to believe that “this time is different” because, it has been.  The previous bear market during COVID and the “almost” bear market in Q4 2018 were very quickly resolved—in both cases, the markets had recovered from their lows within about 3 months.  Ironically, we are now faced with the consequences