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At Granite Harbor Advisors, we value the educational process, giving our clients the knowledge to move forward with confidence.

Adapting to Interest Rate Changes
6 minutes read

Adapting to Interest Rate Changes

Authored by: Nicholas M. Brown, CFA, CFP® Investors are navigating a unique economic landscape today, characterized by declining interest rates alongside a yield curve that seems to be shifting from an inverted state to a more typical configuration. It's a much different environment than even just 12 months ago. Understanding the dynamics of this environment and its implications for different asset…
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New Year, New Limits: The 2025 Estate and Gift Tax Updates You Need to Know
2 minutes read

New Year, New Limits: The 2025 Estate and Gift Tax Updates You Need to Know

Authored by: Brian W. Sak, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC® In a significant update for estate planning and wealth management, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced an increase in the estate and gift tax exemption for 2025. The exemption amount will rise to $13.99 million per person, up from $13.61 million in 2024. Additionally, the annual exclusion gift limit will rise to $19,000 per individual up from…
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Valuing Your Business for Succession and Sale
3 minutes read

Valuing Your Business for Succession and Sale

Contributed by: Tom Kelley, MBA In the dynamic world of business, preparing for succession or sale demands a meticulous approach, with business valuation standing out as a critical component. Accurately valuing your business not only sets realistic expectations but also lays the foundation for a successful transition. Here, we review the importance of accurate business valuation and explore key principles…
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Wealth Preservation in Times of Political Uncertainty
2 minutes read

Wealth Preservation in Times of Political Uncertainty

Contributed by: Austin Manning, CFP® In today's rapidly changing political climate, high net worth individuals and investors face unique challenges when it comes to preserving wealth. The strategies outlined below are potential financial planning and wealth management solutions to safeguard assets amidst uncertainty. Proper Diversification of Asset Classes Diversification is a fundamental strategy…
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Navigating Business Exit Planning: What Are My Options?
3 minutes read

Navigating Business Exit Planning: What Are My Options?

Contributed by: Nicholas E. Gonzalez, CEPA®, CRPS®, CDMA® For business owners contemplating their next steps, understanding and evaluating exit options is crucial. This article explores the fundamentals of exit options analysis, emphasizing its significance and exploring the two primary categories for private ownership transitions: "inside" and "outside" strategies. The Essence of Exit Options Analysis Exit…
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Educating the Next Generation on Financial Responsibility
3 minutes read

Educating the Next Generation on Financial Responsibility

Contributed by: Pijus Bulvinas, CFP® In today's rapidly changing economic landscape, financial education has become more critical than ever for the next generation. With challenges such as rising student loans, economic uncertainty, and an increasingly complex financial world, it is imperative for young people to develop a strong foundation of financial literacy early on. By equipping children and…
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Understanding Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) for Oil & Gas Executives 
5 minutes read

Understanding Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) for Oil & Gas Executives 

Contributed by: Tom Kelley, MBA As an executive in the oil and gas industry, particularly for leading companies like ConocoPhillips, Exxon, or BP, strategic financial planning is essential to managing your wealth effectively. One powerful tool that may be available to you is Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA), a tax strategy that could significantly enhance your retirement distribution plans. In this…
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Navigating Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans: A Detailed Guide
3 minutes read

Navigating Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans: A Detailed Guide

Contributed by: Nicholas E. Gonzalez, CEPA®, CRPS® Ensuring compliance while managing personal investments is a significant challenge for senior executives and directors of public companies. Company trading policies often impose restrictions to prevent conflicts of interest and insider trading, making it difficult for executives to sell shares. However, Rule 10b5-1 trading plans offer a solution. This…
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The Power of Tax Diversified Investing: A Wealth Advisor's Perspective
4 minutes read

The Power of Tax Diversified Investing: A Wealth Advisor's Perspective

Contributed by: Caleb Christian CFP®, CLU®, ChFC® “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” This famous quote from Benjamin Franklin emphasizes an often-overlooked aspect of investing: tax diversification. While many investors focus on traditional diversification strategies—spreading their assets across various stocks, bonds, and asset classes—it’s equally important to consider ways…
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Understanding the 83(b) Election: A Strategic Tax Move for Business Leaders
4 minutes read

Understanding the 83(b) Election: A Strategic Tax Move for Business Leaders

Contributed by: Nicholas E. Gonzalez, CEPA®, CRPS® The 83(b) election is an essential tax planning strategy that can significantly impact the financial outcomes of business owners, C-suite executives, and founders. This article dives into the specifics of what an 83(b) election is, its tax implications, how it pertains to stock awards, when it should be considered, and the potential outcomes of making…
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Integrating Public & Private Market Access

Integrating Public & Private Market Access

With the expansion of Private Markets, Granite Harbor recognizes the significance of offering effective exposure to a growing asset class in investment portfolios. Additionally, we believe that more investment opportunities are electing to stay in the private arena for longer than they previously were. This idea is supported by the fact that: Investment in Private Markets as measured by Assets Under Management accounted for $13.1 Trillion in 20231. This level of investment equates to approximately 30% of the total market capitalization of the S&P 5002. Growth in Private Market investment has increased exponentially in recent years. Since 2018, private market investment has grown by 20% per year1. In 2021, the average size of IPO as measured by market capitalization was $3.96 Billion. In 2010, the average market capitalization was only $545 million3. Sources https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-equity-and-principal-investors/our-insights/mckinseys-private-markets-annual-review#/ https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500/#data https://site.warrington.ufl.edu/ritter/files/IPO-Statistics.pdf
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Understanding Tax-Loss Harvesting: A Guide for Investors
3 minutes read

Understanding Tax-Loss Harvesting: A Guide for Investors

Understanding Tax-Loss Harvesting: Tax-loss harvesting is a sophisticated investment strategy that involves the selling of securities at a loss to offset a corresponding gain. When applied effectively, this technique can reduce the taxable income and enhance the tax-efficiency of an investment portfolio. The essence of tax-loss harvesting lies in its capacity to lower the investor's current year's…
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Understanding Life Settlement: Recognizing the market value of your life insurance
4 minutes read

Understanding Life Settlement: Recognizing the market value of your life insurance

Many people think of life insurance in rather uninspired terms. They generally consider it a liability and an expense that shows up in cash flow projections, not a true asset. This is sometimes why investors will surrender a policy or let one lapse. But before doing either of those things, policyholders should consider a life settlement. When used strategically as part of a comprehensive financial…
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The Importance of Life Insurance in Retirement Planning During the Great Wealth Transfer
7 minutes read

The Importance of Life Insurance in Retirement Planning During the Great Wealth Transfer

The “Great Wealth Transfer” refers to the monumental shift of wealth from the Baby Boomer generation to its heirs. Over the next few decades, an estimated $84 trillion will be transferred to younger generations. This unprecedented movement of assets presents opportunities, but also challenges, for families seeking to secure their financial futures through the seamless transfer of wealth from one generation…
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Using Life Insurance to Transfer Wealth

Using Life Insurance to Transfer Wealth

Using Life Insurance to Transfer Wealth Life insurance can be a useful tool to accomplish many different planning goals. Specifically, if you are investing for a purpose that extends beyond your lifetime, like preserving wealth for generations to come, then life insurance can be a very attractive investment vehicle. Download our infographic to see how a well-designed life insurance strategy can be a tax-efficient way to transfer wealth and protect your legacy.
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Unraveling the Secrets of Cash Value Life Insurance
3 minutes read

Unraveling the Secrets of Cash Value Life Insurance

Cash Value Life Insurance, also known as permanent life insurance, combines a death benefit with an investment component called the cash value. In a cash value life insurance policy, part of each premium you pay is allocated towards insuring your life, while the remaining portion is dedicated to building up a cash value. The cash value portion of your policy grows tax-deferred, and if structured properly,…
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Understanding Premium Financing: A Strategic Approach to Wealth Building
2 minutes read

Understanding Premium Financing: A Strategic Approach to Wealth Building

Understanding Premium Financing Premium Financing represents a sophisticated financial strategy that involves the procurement of a bank loan to pay for insurance premiums. This approach is particularly advantageous for high-net-worth individuals seeking to preserve their use of capital in other areas, while securing desired life insurance coverage for liquidity planning. The Mechanics of Premium Financing Premium…
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How and Why Wealthy Families Use Life Insurance

How and Why Wealthy Families Use Life Insurance

A different approach to life insurance Many people think about life insurance as financial protection against premature death. The death benefit to be paid is a replacement for lost income and helps keep the family going. But most affluent families aren’t overly concerned with income replacement. Instead, wealthy families use life insurance to protect assets because of the specific tax benefits and ROI it can provide. Including insurance products in a well-diversified portfolio can help investors achieve financial goals for the current family while also protecting wealth for future generations. In essence, there are three major themes when it comes to how and why wealthy families use life insurance: wealth accumulation, leverage, and liquidity. This ebook will explore these themes and offer insights into how to use insurance strategies most effectively.
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