Wealth Management Blog | WrapManager

Financial Best Practices for New Parents

August 22, 2018

Having a baby (or babies!) and starting a family means so many exciting, happy, but also unknown things. For first time parents, in particular, it means navigating the often head-spinning tasks of feeding, caring for, and cleaning a baby while also working, taking care of the house, and if you’re lucky, sleeping.

For most new parents, there’s not enough time in any day to get everything done, and by the end of every day you’re exhausted. Making time for budgeting, financial planning, and taking steps to prepare for the child’s future can often seem so far out of reach.

But at the end of the day, it must be done. A recent study found that in the first year alone, the cost of raising a baby can run upward of $21,000 – and that’s not even factoring-in any unexpected illnesses or conditions an infant might have early-on, which are quite common. From the time the baby is born until he or she turns 18, the total cost of upbringing can range from $260,000 (“no-frills”) to $745,000.¹

In short, it’s no financial walk in the park.

Introducing the WrapManager SAIRSHA Global All Cap ESG Portfolio

June 19, 2018

Some investors wish to align their personal values with their investment portfolio, but there have traditionally been several stumbling blocks for investors looking to assemble a diversified ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) portfolio. Fortunately, WrapManager now offers an innovative ESG investment solution which seeks to provide diversification among asset classes, market capitalization, country of domicile, and ESG methodology. What are ESG criteria? Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria is a set of standards for company’s operations that socially conscious investors can use to screen investments. Environmental criteria look at how a company performs as a steward of the natural environment. Social criteria examine how a company manages relationships with its employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates. Governance deals with a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights. [+] Read More

Financial Planning for…Pet Owners?

January 17, 2018

For about 85 million Americans, owning a pet is a joy and marvel of everyday life. Indeed, according to the 2017 - 2018 National Pet Owners Survey, about 68% of US households own a pet. This marks a remarkable 56% increase from pet ownership levels in 1988, the first year the survey was conducted. That’s a lot of furry and fuzzy (and fishy and flighty) friends across the country. Many of these pets are considered a part of the family because of the companionship they offer. According to a 2015 poll, 95% of pet owners in America think of their animal as a member of the family; even going so far as to buy them birthday presents! This perhaps explains why for many, no amount of money can replace the happiness and health benefits of owning a pet. [+] Read More

BlackRock Evaluates Emerging Markets and European Equities

June 8, 2017

When contrarian becomes consensus... Many investors have flocked to emerging market (EM) and European equities this year, as money has broadly flowed back into risk assets. Our analysis suggests these equity trades are becoming consensus, and EM and European stocks are no longer the contrarian trades that they were for much of 2016. Read the three key points of BlackRock's weekly commentary below, or view the entire four-page weekly investment commentary now. [+] Read More

BlackRock Releases 2Q 2017 Global Investing Outlook

April 20, 2017

Global growth expectations are on the rise, and we see room for more upside surprises... Reflation is going global. The signs include a rebound in inflation expectations, a bottoming out in core inflation and wages, and a synchronized pick-up in economic activity indicators and corporate earnings estimates. Read the key points of BlackRock's analysis below. Or, download the complete commentary (PDF). [+] Read More

Lord Abbett: Why HSAs Matter More Than Ever

March 29, 2017

Many experts expect healthcare costs will continue to rise, making it important that advisors help their clients plan ahead. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, health care has become somewhat less affordable, even among those with health insurance. Since 2015, larger shares of people with health insurance say they have a difficult time affording their healthcare costs: from 27% to 37% for premiums; 34% to 43% for deductibles; and from 24% to 31% for copays and prescription drugs. Some experts estimate that a 65-year-old couple who retired in 2016 will need $260,000 to cover just healthcare costs in their golden years—6% more than the previous year's estimate of $245,000. That’s the highest estimate since such projections started in 2002, and chances are repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, not to mention the high cost of pharmaceuticals, could push retiree healthcare costs even higher. All of which highlights the need for advisors to discuss with clients the flexibility and power of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Read on for a summary of their analysis, or view the entire document here. [+] Read More

BlackRock: Tax Reform and Trump Trades

February 20, 2017

We see potential for volatility in the coming months as more reform details emerge. Richard Turnill, BlackRock’s Global Chief Investment Strategist, discusses tax reform and the reflation trade. Turnhill was previously Chief Investment Strategist for BlackRock’s fixed income and active equity businesses, and has also led the Global Equity investment team. Read an excerpt of his weekly commentary below, or view the entire weekly investment commentary here. [+] Read More

BlackRock: Returns in a Reflationary Environment

February 7, 2017

We have largely maintained our assumptions for equity returns while increasing those for fixed income. Richard Turnill, BlackRock’s Global Chief Investment Strategist, gives us the week in review. Turnhill was previously Chief Investment Strategist for BlackRock’s fixed income and active equity businesses, and has also led the Global Equity investment team. Read an excerpt of his weekly commentary below, or view the entire weekly investment commentary here. [+] Read More

Lord Abbett Stocks: Don’t Sweat the Post-Trump

January 31, 2017

Concerns about U.S. equity valuations reflect perceptions that the market has fully priced in prospects for earnings acceleration. But analysts' forecasts for 2017 are nearly unchanged from September 2016. U.S. companies are set to report their strongest profit growth in two years for the fourth quarter of 2016, based on consensus Wall Street analyst estimates. Continuing their recovery from a yearlong decline in quarterly profits, companies in the broad U.S.-market representative S&P 500 Index are expected to report their bottom lines grew by 3.4% in the fourth quarter of 2016, the fastest rate of growth since a 4.6% increase in the fourth quarter of 2014. This quarter’s growth is an improvement from the 3% increase witnessed in the third quarter, and growth is projected to accelerate over the course of 2017. Read on for a summary of their analysis, or view the entire document here. [+] Read More

BlackRock 2017 Investing Outlook

January 2, 2017

Global growth expectations appear to be picking up after an extended slide... BlackRock expects U.S.-led reflation (rising nominal growth, wages and inflation) to accelerate, and sees fiscal expansion gradually replacing monetary policy as an economic growth and market driver around the world. They discuss these topics, as well as the impact of technological change, the risk of a China credit bubble and the dynamics of investor risk appetite, in their 2017 Investing Outlook. Read the key points of BlackRock's analysis. Or, download the complete commentary (PDF). [+] Read More