Perspectives Blog

Brian Balke Vice President, Wealth Advisor

Have you ever thought about the investment value of your Social Security benefits?  In a previous blog about having enough money in retirement, Associate Wealth Planner Danielle Parmenter [...]

Every year, food pantries across Michigan are fully stocked in the winter months thanks to generous holiday donations—but when summer comes, donations drop dramatically and pantry shelves become [...]

At Legacy Trust, we focus on three things – you, your family, and the generations that follow. It’s our mission to create lasting legacies by providing trusted advice and support that reduces the [...]

At Legacy Trust, we talk a lot about ‘answers for life.’ But what does that mean? It means we’re here to give our clients the confidence they need through life transitions that are filled with [...]

We missed meeting with many of you in person, whether as clients or advisors of families we serve during this pandemic.  When the weather was warmer, we were able to hold some outdoor in person [...]

Looking back to this time last year, we were in the office preparing for in-person meetings, events and presentations. Little did we know what was ahead for us in 2020. What a year! The last 12 [...]

Three Legacy Trust Board of Directors were recognized as 2020 Top 200 GRBJ West Michigan Business Leaders. Congratulations to Tracey Hornbeck, Steve Heacock and Carl Erickson!

Over the month of December, the Legacy Trust staff collected various items to donate to the Feeding America of West Michigan. A big thank you to Randii and Spencer for dropping off all of the items!   

Legacy Trust senior vice president and chief investment officer named national 40 under 40 winner Laina Mills, CFA, CFP, will be inducted into the 2021 class of recipients this December GRAND [...]

Our annual holiday party looked a little different this year as we opted for a family friendly evening at John Ball Zoo. Below are a few pictures from the evening:

Legacy Trust sponsored and participated in the Inaugural West Michigan Sports Commission Golf Outing on October 12th at Thousand Oaks Golf Course. Here are a few pictures from the outing: A big [...]

For our purposes, Capital Adequacy is a very simple concept to understand: will I have enough money to meet my lifestyle expenses?  On a smaller scale, you have been doing this math your entire [...]

How Do The COVID-19 Stimulus Packages Impact You and Your Family These are unprecedented times for the world and unprecedented times call for unprecedented action from our elected officials.  [...]

To our valued clients and friends, The recent events related to the COVID-19 pandemic have been swift and extraordinary. On March 23, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-21, [...]

At Legacy Trust, we have been contemplating the retirement planning advice that we have provided clients over the years.  This reflection has made us proud to have helped so many of our clients [...]

On March 10, 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that two confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been identified in Oakland and Wayne counties. As the virus [...]

February 2020 marks Legacy Trust’s 16th birthday.  It is a time to celebrate how far we have come and continue to chart our course for the future. A heartfelt thanks to our clients and friends [...]

Estate planning is not “one and done.” Periodically, reviewing your will, trust, patient advocate, and power of attorney documents is extremely important.  Changes to your family dynamics, [...]

Planning Implications of the SECURE Act On December 20th, 2019, President Trump signed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act) into law, creating [...]

The staff at Legacy Trust participated in the Adopt-A-Family program through Arbor Circle to help brighten the Holiday Season for a local family.

Full Interview –> Tips for getting the most of your tax refund before you file    

Taking a Moment to Be Thankful As we spend time with family and friends over the holidays, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate and thank our Legacy Trust family of clients, employees and [...]

Brian Balke discusses Financial Planning for Families on Fox 17. Watch Full Interview –> Financial Planning for Families

Legacy’s Chief Investment Officer, Laina Mills, recently joined a Legacy Trust Board Member, Charlie Secchia, on the Downtown Market Education Foundation board. Their third annual fundraiser, [...]

Legacy Trust Grows Team, Adds Research Associate Former Citigroup associate joins West Michigan organization GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Oct. 10, 2019) – Grand Rapids based Legacy Trust today announced [...]

Legacy Trust stands apart from other firms in our industry in many ways. We are particularly proud of our local roots and our collective commitment to the community. As a firm, we are an active [...]

Legacy Trust was named one of “West Michigan’s 101 Best & Brightest Companies To Work For” for the second consecutive year. I am incredibly proud of our team and the care they show to our [...]

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Being a new parent is overwhelming. While you’re biologically wired to focus on keeping your baby happy and healthy in the current moment, it’s important to start thinking ahead. Saving for [...]

Legacy Trust was proud to be a part of the 2019 WomanUp & Celebrate Event by Michigan Women Forward. Congratulations to Meg Goebel and India Manns who were honored as women of achievement and [...]

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists from this year’s Top Women Owned Businesses in West MI.  It was an honor to serve on the CEO panel along with Tina Freese Deck, Meredith Bronk and [...]

What is a trust and why would I need one? Essentially, a trust is an agreement whereby a third party (also known as a trustee) agrees to hold property for the good of one or more beneficiaries. [...]

Follow the link below to read the full article written by Marcia Rumsey and Anthony Lewis for the Holland Sentinel. [...]

CAN WE TALK? A smart and simple way to address the details in estate planning   Is there any better way to spend the holidays than with family? For some, it may be the only time of the year [...]

A group of Legacy Trust staff members volunteered on Monday afternoon to rake leaves out of the Bear and Wallaby enclosures at the John Ball Zoo.  

Follow the link below to read the full article written by Tracey Hornbeck for the Grand Rapids Business Journal. It’s Never Too Early To Think About Retirement

In the News: Laina Mills, Chief Investment Officer at Legacy Trust, was asked by WoodTV8 to discuss the Dow as it plunges more than one thousand points in two days. Click To Watch Full [...]

In honor of the wonderful animals in our lives, we are sharing a photo album of Legacy Trust members and their beloved pets:                                       

As the summer winds down, we approach what many of us in Michigan call “the dog days of summer.” A time to bask in the warm sunshine, reflect on the summer activities and start planning for the [...]

Tracey Hornbeck, President and CEO, spoke with MI Biz regarding a recent opportunity to expand the staff at Legacy Trust. View the full article here: Legacy Trust capitalizes on opportunity to [...]

As the school year comes to a close – some parents are busy budgeting for the cost of college. 529 plans can be a good investment option. Mark Periard recently had a chance to discuss the [...]

The Legacy Trust Award Collection was featured on WZZM’s “One Good Thing” and will be expanding its annual exhibition of artwork created by Michigan artists with disabilities. The art will be on [...]

In the News: Laina Mills, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, was asked by  WoodTV8 to comment on the emerging data privacy issue in the Tech Industry. Ms. Mills discussed how the [...]

The Legacy Trust staff spent their lunch hour on Wednesday volunteering at Kids Food Basket. Kids Food Basket is a local organization that provides sack lunches for children to take home at the [...]

In the news: Kelly DeRidder, Senior Vice President and Senior Trust Officer, discusses Charitable Giving Strategies for  2018 with the Grand Rapids Business Journal. Read the full article here: [...]

The market has had an interesting couple of days recently, to say the least. It reminds me of the song Spinning Wheel from Blood Sweat and Tears (you can find the song on YouTube for you younger [...]

In the news: Steve Doorn, Senior Vice President – Director of Portfolio Management, discusses the stock plunge with Wood-TV8 Evening News. Watch the full interview here:

In the news: Laina Mills, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, discusses investing in 2018 with the Grand Rapids Business Journal. Read the full article here – Investing in [...]

In the news: Mark Periard, Senior Vice President and Director of Wealth Management discusses the uncertainty generated by tax reform with the Grand Rapids Business Journal. Read the full article [...]

In the news: Mark Periard, Senior Vice President and Director of Wealth Management discussed the new tax laws with the WOOD-TV8 Morning News team. Watch the full interview here–> [...]

In the news: Mark Periard, Senior Vice President and Director of Wealth Management participated in a roundtable discussion which featured executives from West Michigan-based family-owned [...]

The staff at Legacy Trust once again partnered with Family Promise of Grand Rapids to collect backpacks and school supplies to help local families. The supplies were gathered throughout the month [...]

Legacy Trust Announces New CEO and Adds Three Established Wealth Advisors Local wealth management firm and private trust bank repositions team to further deliver an all-local, personalized client [...]

In the mid-1700s, two ministers of the Church of Scotland caused a major change within their church community; the impact of which still reverberates even today. The two men did not create any [...]

How much do I need to have saved to comfortably retire? What could I do right now to increase my chance of a successful retirement? If I die tomorrow, what kind of (financial) legacy will I [...]

With the recent trend of political turmoil boiling over into our everyday lives and the increasing threat of inflation withering away at the purchasing power of our dollar, gold has become a [...]

In April, 2016, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a long-awaited rule that would hold brokers and investment advisors to a “fiduciary standard” for the investment of IRA and 401(k) accounts. [...]

2017 marks the 13th anniversary of the formation of Legacy Trust.  As we begin this year I wanted to offer that number in quick financial/life tips and ideas to hopefully provoke some thoughts [...]

Experienced financial services leader and CFO Tracey Hornbeck has joined Legacy Trust as chief financial officer and chief operating officer. In her new role with the Grand Rapids investment and [...]

Do you own your own business?  Do you work in a field where you are at a high risk of being sued (ex. doctors, nurses, lawyers)?  Do you worry about protecting your assets from potential [...]

My name is Tracey Hornbeck and I joined Legacy Trust just 8 weeks ago as Chief Operating Officer and CFO. After 20 years in the industry with a larger institution, it was time to make a change. I [...]

During this wonderful time of the year, most of us take for granted our warm homes and the ability to walk into our kitchens and prepare a holiday meal for our loved ones.  It is important to [...]

Last December, my wife presented me with a Shinola watch for my birthday.  I wasn’t that familiar with Shinola other than knowing the company was based in Detroit.   I was initially drawn to the [...]

Attorney Mark Periard has joined Legacy Trust as the director of wealth management. In his new role with the Grand Rapids investment and wealth-management services provider, Periard will be [...]

If there’s one thing this election year should have taught us by now, it’s to expect the unexpected.  On November 8, Donald Trump again defied expectations and was elected as the next President [...]

I’m not sure how much you know about the ABLE act, but in case you didn’t read my last blog, the ABLE act allows an individual with a disability to create a savings account that can hold up to [...]

Mark Periard and Jessica Schilling discuss the use of wills and trusts in the estate planning process.

I can feel it as if I was about to relive it.  My shoulders begin to tighten, my feet and mind move a bit faster.  I race through the parking lot to find an open spot.  I then walk quickly to [...]

Tom Blower and Brian Balke provide insight and perspective into our holistic, client-centered approach.  

Isn’t it crazy how time flies? It seems as though we were just gearing up for Memorial Day weekend and heading out to Lake Michigan to soak up the summer sun. Unfortunately, the leaves are [...]

Meijer Chief Financial Officer Daniel Webb has joined the board of directors for Legacy Trust and the Legacy Trust Holding Company. A CPA, Webb brings more than 25 years of experience and [...]

There are times through the simplest of conversations you learn things you would have no idea ever existed.  For instance, recently, I was part of a conversation about repairing socks.  I for one [...]

When you go to a party or an event, as soon as you walk in most of the time you will scan the room to see if you know anyone else in attendance.  Why?  Because we are all more comfortable talking [...]

Just sold the family business? Preparing for a trusted confidant to retire? It may be time to consider a family office. Our own Bill Walker explores what family offices are – and what questions [...]

Recently, I was interviewed by the Grand Rapids Business Journal on the predicament parents face between choosing to pay for their children’s college versus saving for their own financial [...]

It seems like every time you turn on the TV, listen to the news or open an email…..lurking in the shadows is yet another way to have your identity stolen or become the next victim of a scam.  So [...]

Since my last post reflecting on market behavior in the first half of the year, U.S. equities have continued their upward climb.  The three most commonly quoted U.S. stock indexes – the Dow, the [...]

We want to share this week’s Inside Track on our founder and CEO, Bill Walker. Bill talked with The Grand Rapids Business Journal reporter Charlsie Dewey about his background and the experiences [...]

Well, the Dog Days of Summer are upon us.  You know those long, hot, humid days that signal back to school is just around the corner?  Unfortunately, not every student is able to look forward to [...]

In the spirit of summer, we decided to visit the local food trucks and have a nice meal at the steps of the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Each Thursday around lunchtime, throughout the summer months, [...]

Over the last month or so I have been helping a close family member adjust to life in an assisted living arrangement.  This has become necessary after a long battle against kidney disease and [...]

With the first half of 2016 officially behind us, mid-year always seems like a good time to look back and take stock.  Following years of relative calm and unusually low volatility, the past [...]

I recently wrapped up a four month long leadership development program that has changed the way I view things in such a profound way.  As a young leader in my company, my household and in my [...]

I love seeing my family and friends when I return to my hometown for a visit.  Most have a general idea of what I do, yet some think of me as either a banker (“what are you paying on CD’s these [...]

On August 27, 2016, I will be getting married to an amazing guy; he proposed at a fundraising event I have been a part of for going on six years, in front of a crowd of 250 people back in [...]

Ever wonder what the investment process looks like at Legacy Trust? Laina Mills explains how Legacy Trust’s advisory team comes together to tailor customize strategies for each person’s unique [...]

Someone or something is trying to send me a message.  A few weeks ago, we had an internal training session about how telling stories can send a powerful message.  Just a few days ago, I was [...]

You know what is said about change; that it is inevitable, which is so true.  With that being said the reason for change and how we adjust to it is solely up to each of us as individuals. In 1991 [...]

As a young professional still in my 20’s, I thought I would shed some light on what I am doing to better my financial position. Nowadays the majority of college graduates come out of school with [...]

When we meet with our clients to discuss their portfolio positioning and performance, an important part of the conversation is a review of current economic conditions.  We emphasize this review [...]

At Legacy Trust, we believe it is possible we will be in a low return environment for some time to come.  This presents an unsettling situation for all investors, but can be especially [...]

Being a Minnesota native, my first thought on hearing about Prince’s passing was “how can this be?! Is it a horrible hoax?” He was an icon in Minnesota, and growing up in the ‘90s meant I was [...]

Five Michigan celebrities will serve as judges for the Legacy Trust Award Collection, a statewide competition for adult artists with disabilities in advance of ArtPrize. This year, more than 100 [...]

Some of you may or may not be aware that the Department of Labor just published the final rules of an important piece of regulation called “Fiduciary”; Conflict of Interest Rule—Retirement [...]

One of the most important aspects of investment success is an alignment of thought and decision making with the relevant time horizon. That is, if we want attractive results five years from now, [...]

Michigan legislators just recently passed the Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act.  This new law provides you with the ability to name someone that can have access to your digital assets when [...]

Investors can be broadly broken down in to two classes:  individuals and institutions.  While the distinction between individuals and institutions is self-evident, the category of “institutional [...]

I get asked occasionally what benefit our company receives by sponsoring the Legacy Trust Award Collection Art Competition (LTAC).  My answer to the question may surprise you. The basic [...]

For Immediate Release                                                                               Contact:  Mary Ann Sabo Sabo Public Relations, 616.485.1432 Or Erin Nemastil Sabo Public [...]

At Legacy Trust, we provide wealth management, trust and family office services to individuals and families in West Michigan, designed to meet the needs of our current and prospective clients.  [...]

In the years following the global financial crisis of 2007-2008, central banks around the globe led by the U.S. Federal Reserve took unprecedented steps to stimulate economic growth through [...]

I’m sure you’ve heard the stories or have seen the headlines about the eccentric multi-millionaire that left their $13M fortune to their beloved cat Tommaso or the three Texas pups set to inherit [...]

Around tax time each year we are reminded about how critical it is to be vigilant in protecting confidential personal information.  As mentioned in a release from the IRS (see the link below), [...]

With the recent decline in the equity market, the time is ripe to discuss how to take this opportunity to turn a “lemon into lemonade”. Nobody likes seeing a decrease in their portfolio value, [...]

As we begin 2016, you will undoubtedly see many publications on the internet, in the news, in the paper and so forth talking about how to get your finances in order for the New Year. The truth is [...]

The New Year has begun with a broad-based selloff in global equities. China’s stock market posted heavy losses this week, causing trading activity on the Chinese exchange to be halted two of the [...]

It’s not what you think.  The Harvard Study of Adult Development is the longest study of adult life that’s ever been done.  It has tracked the lives of 724 men over 75 years and what the [...]

On December 18, 2015 President Obama completed the federal government’s Christmas gift to U.S. tax payers by signing the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015.  The PATH Act [...]

Last year at this time, I wrote a short blog  titled “The Robot will see you now!”  The critical point I was trying to make is that while technology-centered robo-advisor platforms are likely to [...]

We believe in giving back to our local community. As a business, we recognize we have a social responsibility to support non-profit organizations in West Michigan. Our contributions and volunteer [...]

Did you hear the story about the guy who was appointed the trustee of a woman’s trust and he totally took advantage of her and stole all her money?  Or the one about the attorney who appointed [...]

Carl Jandernoa, vice president of 42 North Partners, has joined the board of directors for Legacy Trust and Legacy Trust Holding Company. Jandernoa brings more than 15 years of executive and [...]

As the Thanksgiving holiday passes and we enter the Christmas season, I typically like to take time to reflect.  I, for one, feel like I have much to be thankful for. This year brought a number [...]

As a consumer, you are a key part in helping small businesses thrive. By shopping or dining at small businesses, you’re showing your support for the small businesses in your community. [...]

Periods of market volatility such as we experienced in August and September often bring with them a chorus of advice, reminding investors to stick with their long-term strategy rather than to [...]

If you have a loved one with special needs, you worry about their future and caring financially for them long term.  Some good news hit Michigan recently – legislation was signed that will allow [...]

It is that time of year when many people start to think about their charitable giving. This probably explains why I have received so many recent questions about the status of the Qualified IRA [...]

In the estate planning and administration worlds there are a lot of moving parts and it can be overwhelming to understand them if you don’t work in those areas every day. If you’ve been told that [...]

President Obama designated October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month to raise awareness of threats to the data systems that have become part of our everyday lives and to encourage each [...]

Quan Mac has been recognized as Grand Rapids Business Journal’s “40 Under Forty” Class of 2015, honoring young business and community leaders making a difference in West [...]

Too often these days’ market pundits, academics, and other media outlets define risk as volatility. They continue to pound the table stating that the more violently the price of a security [...]

Charlie Secchia, a member of the Board of Directors at Legacy Trust, and John Inhuslen, a local attorney rallied over 40 local businesses and individuals to donate the funds needed to display [...]

Legacy Trust Senior Portfolio Manager Laina Mills has joined the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities West Michigan (CCWM). Mills will serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors. [...]

We have the privilege of working with many clients on a very personal and technical level. Our role is to help clients get from point A to point B. Very rarely is that route linear, which means [...]

Brian M. Balke Receives Promotion to Associate Portfolio Manager Brian M. Balke, an Investment Associate with Legacy Trust, has been promoted to Associate Portfolio Manager. Balke will now be [...]

Legacy Trust employees participated in Family Promise’s Back to School Backpack Campaign again this year! The team worked together to purchase items and fill the backpacks for children in need at [...]

In the news: Laina Mills joins two local professionals in a Grand Rapids Business Journal article to offer insight into recent stock market activity. Read the full article here: Grand Rapids [...]

Curtis D. Ballast has joined Legacy Trust as Vice President & Operations and Compliance Manager. In his new role with the Grand Rapids investment and wealth-management services provider, [...]

As you know, August has brought significant volatility to the stock market with both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 5.8% last week and another 4% on Monday. The [...]

In her new role with the Grand Rapids investment and wealth-management services provider, Umlor is responsible for the administration of all accounting based activity for the corporation and [...]

Carl Erickson, CEO of Atomic Object, has joined the board of directors for Legacy Trust and the Legacy Trust Holding Co. Erickson brings more than two decades of leadership and management [...]

For anyone who relies on an investment portfolio for a significant amount of their retirement income, volatility control is critical to ensuring that the portfolio will survive a long [...]

We are excited to announce a new online system for our clients. To keep pace with your expectations, Legacy Trust is offering a new web experience called C-Connect. This web-based solution is [...]

The tendency to invest disproportionately in your own country is known as home country bias and is a common inclination for investors all around the world. Note: this tendency is referred to as a [...]

As part of our community initiative, Legacy Trust employees volunteered at Kids’ Food Basket making sacked suppers. Kids’ Food Basket is the largest organization in West Michigan solely [...]

In her new role with the Grand Rapids investment and wealth-management services provider, Erhardt will be responsible for facilitating business development activities, building company brand and [...]

In his new role with the Grand Rapids investment and wealth-management services provider, Blower will provide sophisticated financial planning solutions, retirement income strategies, estate [...]

In this edition of our monthly newsletter, we would like to personally thank Legacy Trust co-founder, Bob Prevette. After eleven successful years, Bob will be retiring at the end of June. His [...]

We sat down with Tom Blower, a Senior Wealth Planner at Legacy Trust, to talk about retirement planning and supplemental retirement income. Q: What is supplemental retirement income and why is it [...]

In her new role with the Grand Rapids investment and wealth-management services provider, Mac will primarily be responsible for managing the anchor relationships of Legacy’s Family Office [...]

At a prior firm, one of my co-workers introduced me to a husband and wife who had been clients for many years.  The husband was planning on retiring in the next few years and they were going to [...]

Are you caring for someone that was born with a disability, or a person that has been injured in an accident and requires some extra care? Is there someone in your life that will need ongoing [...]

I have found in my life that working together to achieve a common goal provides a much better outcome than trying to figure everything out on my own. This same principle has carried over to my [...]

If passing your assets to your heirs is important to you, I recommend that you consider reading the book Preparing Heirs:  Five Steps to a Successful Transition of Wealth and Values”, by Roy [...]

It has happened a number of times since I began my career in investment management. The topic of investing is brought up in conversation and it is immediately compared to gambling, where the odds [...]

At Legacy Trust, one of our core values is commitment to our community.  We would like to recognize three of our board members for their continued leadership not only in their respective careers [...]

My favorite way to pass the time on my daily commute between my home in Lowell and our office downtown is to listen to podcasts as I drive.  One of the best that I have found is Planet Money, a [...]

In my time as an estate planning attorney I met people of all backgrounds and with various levels of wealth.  One client that I remember well was an older woman who was leaving her son millions [...]

Given the experience that I have had working with high wage earners, I have uncovered a less discussed truth: they have a difficult task in order to continue their lifestyle throughout [...]

Contact:  Bill Walker Legacy Trust, 616.454.2852 or Erin Nemastil Sabo Public Relations, 616.633.0642 Terri Land Joins the Legacy Trust Board of Directors Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 12, 2015 – [...]

As much as we hear talk of the “new normal” from prominent investment personalities, we believe that it’s just another version of that fateful proclamation heard just before the [...]

What is phishing?  Phishing is the act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be a legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that [...]

I hope you had a chance to read Laura’s blog post last week about the lack of information available for prospective college students about the long term financial consequences of student loans.  [...]

In a recent blog post that I wrote just a few weeks ago I drew attention to the fact that many investor predictions for 2014 played out in the market in unexpected ways, not least of which was [...]

$1,200,000,000,000. That’s a lot of zeros. That’s also our country’s nationwide student loan debt. Student loan debt has recently passed both auto loans and credit card debt, but this shouldn’t [...]

Contact:  Bill Walker Legacy Trust, 616.454.2852 or Erin Nemastil Sabo Public Relations, 616.633.0642 Jessica M. Schilling joins Legacy Trust as Account Executive Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jan. 29, [...]

Have you thought about how your family might treat each other when you’re gone?  It’s not a fun topic to consider, but a necessary one.  They may get along great now, but I speak from experience [...]

Now that the holidays are behind us, we find ourselves entering a new season:  it’s the time of year for annual market and economic forecasts.  Economists, financial analysts, and investment [...]

Both are highly trained and skilled. Both work within some form of established guidelines. For the investment manager it’s an investment policy. For the chef it’s a recipe. Both allow [...]

As the holiday season quickly approached, we reached out to our friends at Family Promise to figure out how we could help. Our friend Kelsy told us about the Christmas Store that they provide to [...]

The evolution of technology over the past decade is drastically changing the landscape for advice-centered businesses.  Just look at how Travelocity has displaced the experienced travel agent and [...]

I have been with Legacy Trust now for just over two years and thought I would share some of what I have learned.  I have had a couple different roles since starting. My initial role was focused [...]

When it comes to wealth planning, it is easy for some of us to become consumed with the preservation and accumulation of assets, rates of return and cash flows.  We perceive the more we [...]

It seems that I have had an unusually large number of conversations recently about how to choose a trustee for a trust.  Therefore, I felt this might be a good time to discuss some important [...]

During one of my recent trips to Starbucks, which admittedly is a frequent occurrence, I ordered my usual Grande Americano with just a small amount of room left for cream. The barista then [...]

Twice in the past several weeks I have encountered a tax planning opportunity that was missed by families caring for a parent with diminished mental ability or confronting other life changes. In [...]

It seems like all we hear about today from the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and other market media outlets is the attack on active management and the support for passive management (indexing). [...]

The International Monetary Fund has been in the headlines recently with the release of its updated world economic outlook, coming on the heels of heightened equity market volatility over recent [...]

It has been almost 6 months since I joined the Legacy Trust team and I’d like to reflect on that time for my blog post, and how my role in the company is not unlike the role of running a family [...]

In the investment world, risk generally is related to uncertainty. It refers to the possibility that you might lose your investment, or that an investment will yield less than its anticipated [...]

I read an article recently about the premier episode of “Celebrity Legacies”, a television show on the Reelz channel that investigates the legacy of a different departed celebrity each week.  I [...]

The state of the U.S. jobs market has always been watched closely by economists and financial professionals, and the current economic recovery has only served to draw closer scrutiny to the [...]

When Money Speaks, the Truth Keeps Silent.  Russian Proverb Judging from the number of well publicized investment swindles in recent history, it seems safe to conclude that one cannot be too [...]

While the U.S. economic picture continues to show broad improvement, some concerning trends are emerging that could eventually lead into the next recession.  When will the next recession happen?  [...]

From the beginning of June 2014 to mid-July 2014 shares of CYNK Technology Corp (CYNK), a penny stock, ran up by approximately 25,000%. The run up and what caused it is still under investigation, [...]

In my last post, I wrote about the challenges ahead for the millions of baby boomers as they enter the traditional “retirement years”. As a near retiree myself, I quite naturally have [...]

In my last post I wrote about one method to protect retirement portfolios from the long term impact of market volatility, an often feared retirement risk.  However, there are other sometimes [...]

Benchmarks are indices used for measuring the performance of a particular strategy or total portfolio. The goal of most money managers and investors is to outperform their respective benchmark. [...]

I have the privilege of writing this post on July 1 – the midway point for the year.  I actually felt chills up my spine last week when I realized that we’re already closer to the next holiday [...]

Contact: Bill Walker Legacy Trust, 616.454.2852 or Mary Ann Sabo Sabo Public Relations, 616.485.1432 Legacy Trust Signs Long-Term Lease for New Office Space Firm Remains in Downtown Grand Rapids, [...]

After a day at work, making dinner, washing dishes and folding laundry, I can finally sit down, relax and unwind for the day.   I put my feet up and grab my laptop.  I decide to quickly check my [...]

I read an article this morning in The Fiscal Times that said 59% of Americans surveyed by Gallup were worried about the sufficiency of their retirement savings.  Disappearing pension plans and [...]

When I started my job at Legacy Trust, they provided me what I would call a welcome packet.  It talked about the values of the company, its history and culture as well as the expectations of its [...]

The baby boomer generation defies any simple description, except to say that it includes the massive number of people born after World War II, between 1946 and 1964, about 25% of the U.S. total [...]

More than five years later, the 2008 global financial crisis continues to have long-lasting consequences. One unsurprising side effect of the crisis is that it has led to increased public [...]

My wife Deborah and I are the parents of a special needs child.  Lillian, our only child, was born with significant physical and mental limitations and we have devoted our lives to assuring she [...]

On my drive back home the other day I was listening to NPR’s Marketplace.  They had a segment titled “When the IRS ‘likes’ your Facebook update.” The segment talked about how the agency is using [...]

Last time we visited Family Promise, we learned more about the organization and got to take a peek into what an average day may look like for the families that are helped. We were told about a [...]

For Immediate Release Contact:  Bill Walker Legacy Trust, 616.454.2852 or Mary Ann Sabo Sabo Public Relations, 616.485.1432 Tom Werkman Joins Legacy Trust as Chief Operating Officer Grand Rapids, [...]

During “tax season”, I spend a lot of time talking with clients and tax preparers about, as you might expect, income taxes.  This often includes strategizing about how to reduce them in the [...]

When I was nine or ten years old, my grandfather taught me how to play poker.  He brought out his loose change jar and counted out twenty five pennies for each of us, and walked me through a [...]

Planning for retirement is something that most people put off until it is too late to have much impact. The unfortunate fact is that most of us will spend more time planning one vacation than [...]

I was interviewed by Pete Daly of the Grand Rapids Business Journal on the pressing topic of managing Social Security. You can read my thoughts and the entire article here. [...]

This week, investors are crossing a notable milestone.  March 9, 2009 proved to be the bottom of the months-long market selloff that accompanied the Great Recession.  In the five years since [...]

Gilda’s LaughFest (March 6-16, 2014) will kick off its fourth annual event with the most ambitious line-up of comedy talent yet.  Some familiar names will join with newcomers to bring a large [...]

There are few decisions at retirement more difficult than choosing the right strategy for collecting Social Security retirement benefits.  No matter their level of wealth, most of my clients [...]

For Immediate Release Contact:  Bill Walker Legacy Trust, 616.454.2852 or Mary Ann Sabo Sabo Public Relations, 616.485.1432 Legacy Trust’s Laina Mills Promoted to Vice President and Senior [...]

At Legacy Trust, we often talk with our clients about the importance of a global perspective when it comes to their portfolios.  New economies continue to emerge and develop and technology has [...]

The Legacy Trust staff celebrated the company’s 10th Anniversary in high stakes fashion – in the kitchen. Team Divas (Brian Moore, Keith Millhisler, Randii Smith, Sandy Beurkens, Jeanette Pigorsh [...]

Welcome to the Legacy Trust website. The launch of this new website coincides with the 10 year anniversary of Legacy Trust. For those who have frequented our website over the past five years, you [...]

For Immediate Release Contact: Bill Walker Legacy Trust, 616.454.2852 or Mary Ann Sabo Sabo Public Relations, 616.485.1432 Legacy Trust Celebrates 10th Anniversary Grand Rapids, Michigan, January [...]

Members of the Legacy staff played Santa today for a family in Grand Rapids. Brian Balke, Randii, Melanie, Sandy, Hilary and Laura loaded up two SUV’s with presents and food to deliver just in [...]

The Legacy staff spent Veteran’s Day in their aprons volunteering at Family Promise in Grand Rapids. Melanie, Hilary, Sandy, Laura and I visited in the morning to cook up some chili and bake and [...]

Hardly able to see out my van windows, Laura, Brian and I delivered 18 backpacks to Family Promise in Grand Rapids today.  Over the past month, the Legacy team was challenged to collect [...]

For Immediate Release Contact: Mary Ann Sabo Sabo Public Relations, 616.485.1432 Legacy Trust Welcomes Two New Team Members Grand Rapids, Michigan, February 22, 2013 – To better serve the needs [...]