Category Archives: Fiduciary Advisor

Alternative Investments, Family Office, Fiduciary Advisor, Private Equity, Selecting a Family Office Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor, Wealth Management

Family Offices: Ditch the Talent Hunt and Hire an Expert Contractor

Posted on by Jennifer Lambert
09
Aug

 

For ultra-high-net-worth families, your private wealth management firm—the family office—is at the heart of your financial strategy. As direct investing and complex portfolio oversight become the norm, the demand for top-tier investment talent has never been greater. Yet, many family offices are finding that the hunt for a world-class, in-house investment analyst is a struggle.

It’s not just about competing with Wall Street salaries. The challenges are often structural, cultural, and economic. But what if the solution isn’t to compete for talent you can’t get, but to hire the experts you need?

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Alternative Investments, Fiduciary Advisor, Private Equity, Private Wealth, Selecting a Family Office Investment Advisor, Selecting a Private Wealth Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor, Wealth Management

How Small RIAs and Bank Trust Departments Are Elevating Their Investment Game Through Outsourced CIO Solutions

Posted on by Jennifer Lambert
02
Aug

 

In today’s fast-changing financial services landscape, small Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firms and Bank Trust Departments face a critical challenge: delivering sophisticated investment strategies and exceptional client experiences with far fewer resources than their larger competitors. To stay competitive and drive sustainable growth, many forward-thinking firms are adopting a strategic solution—partnering with an outsourced Chief Investment Officer. This approach provides institutional-quality investment management at a fraction of the cost—typically $180,000 to $230,000 annually, according to Cornerstone Research—compared to hiring a similarly skilled in-house CIO and support team. For these agile firms, the shift isn’t simply about keeping pace; it’s about positioning themselves to excel and compete far above their weight class.

 

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401(k) Plan Litigation, 401(k) Plans, 403(b) Plans, Active Versus Passive Management, Defined Contribution Plans, ERISA, Fiduciary Advisor, Managed Accounts, Roth vs. Traditional Contributions, Selecting a 401(k) Plan Investment Advisor, Selecting a 403(B) Plan Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor

The Case for Managed Accounts in Defined Contribution Plans

Posted on by Jennifer Lambert
01
Aug

The potential value that managed account providers bring—including personalized guidance, holistic planning, dynamic rebalancing, and tax-aware portfolio management—has rarely been in question. The primary critique has always been about their added expenses relative to target-date funds, which have offered a reasonable, if highly imperfect, solution at a much lower cost.

However, a combination of intense competition, technological advancements that improve the efficiency of delivery, and other market factors has driven these expenses down meaningfully over time, particularly for the very large plans. As the cost difference between managed accounts and target-date funds has become much more negligible, especially for mega plans, the value proposition for managed accounts has grown meaningfully.

This shift allows mega defined contribution plan sponsors with substantial assets to deliver institutional-quality investment management and financial advice to participants at significantly reduced costs. These large-scale plans—spanning 401(k), 403(b), and 457 platforms—leverage their substantial bargaining power to negotiate managed account fees that reframe the traditional cost-benefit equation for their participants.

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Alternative Investments, Endowments, Endowments and Foundations, ESG, Fiduciary Advisor, Foundations, Nonprofits, Selecting an Endowment or Foundation Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor

Choosing the Right Investment Advisor for Your Foundation or Endowment

Posted on by Jennifer Lambert
01
Aug

Choosing an investment advisor for your foundation or endowment is a pivotal decision that shapes both your organization’s mission and its enduring legacy. The strength of your investment portfolio fuels your ability to deliver on that mission, making it essential to have a partner who can steer through an increasingly complex and often unpredictable market. While many institutions default to large, national firms, an increasing number of foundations and endowments are recognizing the advantages of working with boutique investment advisors. These specialized firms often provide direct access to their most senior professionals, nimble decision-making, and a deeper alignment of interests—benefits that can be difficult to replicate within larger organizations.

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Endowments, Fiduciary Advisor, Foundations, Nonprofits, Private Equity, Selecting an Endowment or Foundation Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor

Securing Tomorrow, Today: The Indispensable Role of Private Equity in Endowment & Foundation Portfolios

Posted on by Jennifer Lambert
29
Jul

 

Endowments and foundations are entrusted with a monumental responsibility: to steward capital in a way that not only preserves but robustly grows purchasing power for generations, supporting vital missions in perpetuity. In a landscape marked by market volatility, persistent inflationary pressures, and evolving return expectations, the asset allocation decisions made today are foundational—they will echo for decades. Increasingly, private equity (PE) has emerged as an indispensable cornerstone strategy for institutions seeking to meet these challenges head-on and secure their future. Here’s why investment committees should unequivocally give private equity a prominent place at the table.

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Alternative Investments, Endowments, Endowments and Foundations, Fiduciary Advisor, Foundations, Nonprofits, Selecting an Endowment or Foundation Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor

The Big Beautiful Bill: Why This New Tax Law Is Reshaping Endowment and Foundation Investing

Posted on by Jennifer Lambert
14
Jul

 

The financial world for endowments and foundations just got a wake-up call. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” or OBBB, signed into law on July 4, 2025, isn’t just another piece of legislation—it’s a fundamental change to the economics of large-scale charitable investing. Starting in 2026, a new excise tax regime will profoundly impact how major institutions manage their portfolios, a change that will have an immediate and compounding effect.

Important clarification: The OBBB Act specifically targets private foundations and university endowments. Donor-advised funds (DAFs), community foundations, and operating charities are NOT affected by these new excise tax rules. These charitable vehicles continue to operate under the previous tax framework and remain exempt from the progressive rate structure described below.

For any private foundation or university endowment with assets over $50 million, this isn’t a minor adjustment; it’s a call to action. The drag on returns will snowball, impacting future grants and mission-driven spending. Here’s a deep dive into what changed, why it matters, and the advanced strategies you can use to respond.

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Alternative Investments, Endowments, Endowments and Foundations, ESG, Fiduciary Advisor, Foundations, Nonprofits, Planned Giving, Selecting an Endowment or Foundation Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor

The Enduring Legacy: How Planned Giving is Revolutionizing Nonprofit Endowments

Posted on by Jennifer Lambert
23
Jun

 

The world has changed dramatically in recent years, and with it, the landscape of philanthropy. The pandemic, while presenting immense challenges, also illuminated the critical importance of long-term financial stability for nonprofits. This has shone a spotlight on planned giving and legacy gifts, recognizing them not just as a bonus, but as indispensable cornerstones for building robust endowment funds.

So, how are forward-thinking nonprofits seizing this moment, and what truly motivates donors to secure an organization’s future for generations to come?

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Chicago Area Investment Advisor, Estate Tax Mitigation, Fiduciary Advisor, Selecting a Family Office Investment Advisor, Selecting a Private Wealth Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor, Wealth Management

Safeguarding Your Legacy: Essential Estate Tax Strategies for Married Couples

Posted on by Jennifer Lambert
01
Jun

 

For married couples who have built multimillion-dollar estates, the thought of substantial estate tax liabilities can be daunting. With current federal exemptions facing a dramatic reduction after 2025, the urgency to plan has never been greater. The good news? A sophisticated arsenal of planning tools exists to help you significantly minimize, or even eliminate, these taxes, ensuring more of your hard-earned wealth passes to your loved ones, not the taxman.

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Chicago Area Investment Advisor, Fiduciary Advisor, IRA Contributions, Roth Contributions, Roth IRA Conversion, Roth vs. Traditional Contributions, Selecting a Private Wealth Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor

The Roth IRA Conversion Conundrum: Is It Right for Your Retirement?

Posted on by Jennifer Lambert
27
May

 

Deciding what to do with your retirement savings can feel like navigating a maze. Among the many financial choices, converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA stands out as one with significant long-term implications. It’s a move that can fundamentally reshape your retirement income and tax picture for decades to come. So, how do you know if making the switch is the smart play for your future? Let’s break down the compelling reasons why a Roth conversion might be a brilliant strategy, and why, for some, it might be a step to reconsider.

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401(k) Plans, 403(b) Plans, Defined Contribution Plans, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, ERISA, Fiduciary Advisor, Non-Fiduciary Advisor, Selecting a 403(B) Plan Investment Advisor, Selecting an Investment Advisor

The 403(b) Revolution is Coming: What Fiduciaries Must Know About CITs

Posted on by admin
21
May

The retirement landscape for millions of public sector and non-profit employees is on the cusp of a groundbreaking shift. For years, 403(b) plans—the retirement vehicles for teachers, hospital workers, clergy, and many non-profit staff—have operated with a significant disadvantage compared to their 401(k) counterparts. But a recent legislative breakthrough in Washington D.C. is set to change that, potentially unleashing a wave of benefits for participants and new responsibilities for plan fiduciaries.

On May 20, 2025, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee advanced H.R. 1013, aptly named the “Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act of 2025.” This isn’t just another piece of legislative jargon; it’s a bill that, if passed, will open the door for 403(b) plans to invest in Collective Investment Trusts (CITs) for the very first time.

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