Kukla McGinnis Brown
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February Observations Volatility Continues on AI Disruption and Geopolitics U.S. equities were mixed in February, with the S&P 500 falling 0.8% as concerns over AI disruption, tariffs, and escalating Middle East tensions weighed on sentiment.…
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Many awoke to news last Saturday morning of the U.S. and Israel jointly launching airstrikes against Iran’s military capabilities and leadership structure. The buildup to what has been deemed, “Operation Epic Fury”, has been ongoing…
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Historically, emerging markets have typically made the headlines for political upheaval, war or economic struggles. However, 2025’s 33.5% return for the MSCI Emerging Markets (net return) index1 has brought emerging market equities into the collective…
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January Observations Volatile Start to 2026 as Geopolitics Dominated Headlines U.S. equity markets posted modest gains in January, with the S&P 500 returning 1.5% despite significant mid-month volatility. Tariff threats on European countries over Greenland…
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by Tim Side, CFA – Director of Investment Strategy A cruel taste of life in Greenland swept across much of the U.S. over the weekend as snowstorms and frigid temperatures caused several deaths, grounded flights,…
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Executive Summary 2025 served as another reminder of markets’ ability to climb the so-called “Wall of Worry”. The year carried its fair share of headline risks: a reordering of global defense philosophies, tariff disruptions, a…
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November Observations AI Theme Comes Under Pressure Markets were mixed in November with the AI theme losing some luster as investor fatigue was led by concerns over rising debt to finance AI spending, elevated valuations,…
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October Observations Still Climbing Global equities extended their rally in October, with the MSCI ACWI up 2.2% as developed and emerging markets advanced. Korea led all markets with a 19.9% surge, powered by semiconductors and…
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July Observations Onward and Upward The global equity rallied continued through July, though in a reversal from the previous months, U.S. equities outperformed the rest of the world, aided by a strong U.S. dollar. Within…
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Congratulations on your engagement! Whether it’s for the first time or more times, planning a wedding (and life together) is incredibly exciting. However, between the dress fittings and cake tastings, a question lingers in the…
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June Observations Second Quarter Ends on a High Note Global equity markets extended their rally into June as continued economic strength reduced earlier recession fears and further improvement within various trade negotiations helped risk assets.…
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May Observations Strong Earnings Support Market Rally Global equity markets rallied over the month as continued relief from trade tensions, notably a de-escalation in tensions between the US and Europe, sent most major indices higher.…
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MONTHLY OBSERVATIONS Diversification Mitigates Tough Month for US Equities A reversal in the momentum trade sent US stocks mostly lower in February as the combination of a Fed on pause, weaker macro data, policy uncertainty,…
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If you are a business owner considering your exit plan, you have probably considered selling to a small group of insiders (key employees and/or family members), financial buyers (private equity), or strategic buyers (competitors). Before…
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While not the most common form of company ownership, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)s have found a niche. According to the National Center for Employee Ownership, as of 2021, there were approximately 6,533 ESOPs in…
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Some Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) sellers are eligible to defer capital gain taxes on ESOP transactions by investing their sales proceeds into Qualified Replacement Property (stocks and bonds of certain U.S. companies). The technical…
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If you think the 1042 election could be right for you, it is time to evaluate investment details. To successfully complete a 1042 election, the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) seller must invest in Qualified…
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Chris Kamykowski, CFA, CFP® – Head of Investment Strategy and ResearchTim Side, CFA – Investment Strategist Monthly Observations Upward Momentum Continues for Markets A resilient economy continued to support all markets with the labor market…
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by Trent Rieger, Associate Investment Analyst All-time highs, brand new spot ETFs, and an upcoming halving has Bitcoin continuing to make headlines, sparking curiosity in those with fear of missing out (“FOMO”). Both speculation and…
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Aoifinn Devitt, Chief Global Market Strategist Coming off of the usual post-Oscars drama, the real original screenplays kicked off mid-week with inflation numbers and a concern that 2024 is already getting too hot to handle.…
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Aoifinn Devitt, Chief Global Market Strategist Maybe it is because it is an election year, but we still have China on our minds. Despite the fact that China continues its decline on the global market…
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By Sean Follis, Moneta Advisor Life insurance can be a critical component of your financial plan. This article will explore how to measure the amount of life insurance you need along with the different types…
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By Lindsay Taylor, Moneta Senior Advisor With the transfer of power complete, many individuals have begun to worry about the estate tax implications of a Democratic majority-led government. While this provides a great opportunity to…