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Choosing Investment Options When Focusing on Estate Planning and Passing Down Invested Assets
9 minutes read

Choosing Investment Options When Focusing on Estate Planning and Passing Down Invested Assets

Contributed by: Tom Kelley, MBA Estate planning is a critical element of wealth management, particularly for individuals and families aiming to preserve and transfer wealth across generations. Selecting the right investment options plays a pivotal role in supporting the preservation of financial legacies while mitigating tax liabilities and legal complexities. When aligned with a comprehensive estate…
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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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The Power of a Holistic Approach to Public and Private Equity Markets for Accredited Investors
3 minutes read

The Power of a Holistic Approach to Public and Private Equity Markets for Accredited Investors

The Power of a Holistic Approach to Public and Private Equity Markets for Accredited Investors When it comes to growing and preserving wealth, accredited investors have a unique advantage in harnessing the often-underestimated synergy between public and private equity markets. By utilizing a comprehensive strategy that integrates both markets, investors can optimize their returns and build a robust…
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Balancing Growth and Preservation in a Portfolio
6 minutes read

Balancing Growth and Preservation in a Portfolio

Contributed by: Austin Manning, CFP In today’s shifting economic environment, successful wealth management requires more than simply choosing investments that “perform.” It demands an intentional balancing act — between growing assets to meet future goals and preserving the wealth already built through years of effort, risk, and success. For affluent families, corporate executives, and business owners,…
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The Bumpy Road to the Market’s Long-Term Average
3 minutes read

The Bumpy Road to the Market’s Long-Term Average

Since 1926, the U.S. stock market has served as a powerful engine of wealth creation, delivering an average annualized return of approximately 10%. While this long-term performance is encouraging, it's important for investors to understand that these returns are not delivered in a straight line. In fact, they mask a wide range of outcomes that investors have experienced from year to year. The Reality…
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The Role of Asset Allocation During Volatile Markets
4 minutes read

The Role of Asset Allocation During Volatile Markets

Contributed By: Pijus Bulvinas, CFP Periods of market volatility often generate unease for even the most seasoned investors. News cycles filled with uncertainty and swiftly changing market conditions can trigger emotional decision making, leading to actions that may harm long-term financial outcomes. During these times, one principle has consistently proven its importance: disciplined asset allocation. Asset…
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Tariffs, Tightening, and Turbulence: Unpacking Market Uncertainty in the Face of Shifting Policy
7 minutes read

Tariffs, Tightening, and Turbulence: Unpacking Market Uncertainty in the Face of Shifting Policy

Authored by: Nicholas M. Brown, CFA, CFP In recent weeks, the conversation dominating the financial headlines has centered on tariffs—and whether or not they will ultimately be implemented. Initially perceived by many as a tactical move—a bargaining chip in the administration’s broader agenda, which includes border security, trade rebalancing, and domestic manufacturing support—tariffs have quickly…
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Don’t Let Tariffs Derail Your Long-Term Strategy: What Investors Should Do Now
4 minutes read

Don’t Let Tariffs Derail Your Long-Term Strategy: What Investors Should Do Now

Authored By: Brian Sak, CFP, CLU, ChCF In early 2025, a new wave of tariff policy updates has unsettled global markets. As trade rhetoric intensifies between the United States and major economies—including China and the European Union—investors are once again contending with heightened volatility, fluctuating commodity prices, and geopolitical uncertainty. While headlines focus on the noise of tariffs…
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Unlocking the Potential of 1031 Exchanges for Real Estate
5 minutes read

Unlocking the Potential of 1031 Exchanges for Real Estate

Contributed by: Pijus Bulvinas, CFP & Richard Dorfman, Vice President, SRS Real Estate Partners Real estate investors are constantly seeking ways to maximize their returns while minimizing their tax liabilities. For those looking to sell appreciated property without incurring significant capital gains taxes, the 1031 exchange offers a powerful solution. Named after Section 1031 of the Internal…
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Planning for Educational Investments for Future Generations
3 minutes read

Planning for Educational Investments for Future Generations

Investing in the education of future generations is one of the most impactful legacies a family can create. For many affluent families, this means going beyond standard savings plans and exploring sophisticated strategies that ensure educational goals are met while maintaining financial stability. Granite Harbor Advisors understands the unique challenges and opportunities of educational planning, and…
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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

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 article provides an in-depth look at these plans,…
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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

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 this election. What Is the 83(b) Election? Section…
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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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Maximizing Real Estate Returns in Texas
7 minutes read

Maximizing Real Estate Returns in Texas

Maximizing Real Estate Returns in Texas: Investment Strategies & Ownership With Texas's changing property tax landscape, real estate is becoming an increasingly attractive asset class. Discover if and how real estate may fit within your investment portfolio. Governor Abbott recently signed one of the most significant property tax cuts in American history, officially using $18 billion of the state’s…
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A Comprehensive Guide to the Private Equity Due Diligence Process
4 minutes read

A Comprehensive Guide to the Private Equity Due Diligence Process

Private equity investments offer the potential for significant returns, but they also carry a considerable amount of risk. Therefore, conducting a thorough due diligence process is crucial to evaluate the viability and suitability of these opportunities. We have constructed a robust infrastructure that allows us to bring private equity opportunities directly to you, ensuring a more transparent and…
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Pros and Cons of Private Equity Investing: What You Need to Know as a High-Net-Worth Investor
4 minutes read

Pros and Cons of Private Equity Investing: What You Need to Know as a High-Net-Worth Investor

Private equity investments can be an attractive option for investors looking to diversify their portfolios and potentially earn higher returns. However, before jumping into this type of investment, it's critical to consider whether it's the right choice for your individual financial goals and risk tolerance. What are the pros of private equity investing? Higher potential returns: Private equity investments…
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The Ultimate Guide to Private Market Investing
10 minutes read

The Ultimate Guide to Private Market Investing

Getting Started with Private Markets as part of a Comprehensive Investment Strategy for Accredited Investors. Private Market Investing has become increasingly popular over the years as investors seek higher returns in a low-interest-rate environment and an alternative to the daily volatility of the public markets1. Private Markets can be a profitable venture for the right investor. While investing…
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Is my money safe? Understanding the impact of a bank collapse
6 minutes read

Is my money safe? Understanding the impact of a bank collapse

The recent collapses of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank (Signature) resulted in two of the three biggest bank collapses in U.S. history, behind the 2008 collapse of Washington Mutual. This has created uncertainty over the stability and liquidity of all banks, especially for those with over $250,000 FDIC limits in a single institution—including many small businesses needing liquidity for…
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Why Average Rate of Return is Not the Key to Retirement Income Planning
4 minutes read

Why Average Rate of Return is Not the Key to Retirement Income Planning

Many investors use the average rate of returns as one of their primary metrics for assessing portfolio performance. In your earning years, the average rate is a useful benchmark because most people are focused on total wealth accumulation. But when you enter retirement, the order in which you experience those returns becomes much more important. A bad year or two at the start of retirement could have…
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Inflation: Responding Appropriately with Flexibility and Discipline
4 minutes read

Inflation: Responding Appropriately with Flexibility and Discipline

Inflation is a hot topic these days with many experts and financial institutions offering predictions about the short- and long-term outlook. The truth is, no one can tell the future, and trying to guess our way around what will or will not happen is poor financial planning. Instead, let us take an objective look at the risks associated with inflation, the right mentality for approaching the issue,…
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Opening the back door to tax-free earnings
2 minutes read

Opening the back door to tax-free earnings

As covered in our 401(k) – Super Roth article, a Roth IRA offers an attractive tax benefit. But, what do you do if you do not have a 401(k) or your 401(k) does not allow post-tax contributions? The answer is the Backdoor Roth which is the conversion from a Traditional to a Roth IRA. Both the Super Roth and Back Door options are for people who exceed the income limits (single filers that make over $139,000…
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Do I Need a Financial Advisor?
3 minutes read

Do I Need a Financial Advisor?

In the 21st century, endless information is accessible in the palm of our hands. With a few clicks, we can find the basic information we need to make financial decisions quickly and easily. But for some of us, basic information is not enough. Additionally, we tend to have limited amounts of time for researching, implementing, and monitoring financial decisions. If you find yourself thinking about some…
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Rolling over your 401(K)? Consider Net Unrealized Appreciation first
4 minutes read

Rolling over your 401(K)? Consider Net Unrealized Appreciation first

At Granite Harbor Advisors, we believe in helping our clients better understand all of their options so they can make the best decision for their families. To that end, here is a more detailed look at what net unrealized appreciation is and how you can use it to advance your financial goals. What is net unrealized appreciation (NUA)? Net unrealized appreciation is simply the difference in value between…
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Is This Risk Worth Taking?
2 minutes read

Is This Risk Worth Taking?

Have you ever been faced with a difficult decision? Not sure which way to go because you didn’t fully understand the risks involved? Much like playing cards, there are times where we need to fold, and move on, and there are times where we should stay in the game based on anticipated risks and rewards. When evaluating risk associated with financial planning, there are some risks that we are willing…
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Videos:

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The 15-Minute Quarter: Back to the Future

The 15-Minute Quarter: Back to the Future

The 15-Minute Quarter: The Upside Down Welcome to the latest edition of The 15-minute Quarter! Each quarter, Granite Harbor Advisors presents a concise 15-minute overview of the market's performance over the past 90 days, addressing the most frequently asked questions we receive. In this episode titled "Back to the Future," our very own Nick Brown, CFA, CFP®, dives into 2023 as a whole, providing insightful commentary on current events and market performance.
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On-Demand Video - The 15-Minute Quarter: The Upside Down

On-Demand Video - The 15-Minute Quarter: The Upside Down

The 15-Minute Quarter: The Upside Down Welcome to the latest edition of The 15-minute Quarter! Each quarter, Granite Harbor Advisors presents a concise 15-minute overview of the market's performance over the past 90 days, addressing the most frequently asked questions we receive. In this episode titled "The Upside Down," our very own Nick Brown, CFA, CFP®, dives into Q3 2023, providing insightful commentary on current events and market performance.
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On-Demand Video - The 15-Minute Quarter: Don't Call It a Comeback

On-Demand Video - The 15-Minute Quarter: Don't Call It a Comeback

The 15-Minute Quarter: Don't Call It a Comeback Welcome to the latest edition of The 15-minute Quarter! Each quarter, Granite Harbor Advisors presents a concise 15-minute overview of the market's performance over the past 90 days, addressing the most frequently asked questions we receive. In this episode titled "Don't Call it a Comeback," our very own Nick Brown, CFA, CFP®, delves into Q2 2023, providing insightful commentary on current events and market performance.
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15-Minute Quarter: Light at the End of the Tunnel

15-Minute Quarter: Light at the End of the Tunnel

Q4 - 2022 Quarterly Market Summary Welcome to another episode of The 15-minute Quarter! Each quarter Granite Harbor Advisors presents a 15-minute overview of the last 90 days in the market and answers many common questions we have received. In this episode, The Light at the End of the Tunnel, our very own Nick Brown, CFA, CFP® provides commentary on 2022's fourth quarter and how Granite Harbor Advisors is navigating the current climate.
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15-Minute Quarter: Paying the Risk Premium

15-Minute Quarter: Paying the Risk Premium

Q3 - 2022 Quarterly Market Summary "Paying the Risk Premium" is the title of this episode. As you may know, our investment philosophy is built upon scientifically identified areas of premium return in the markets. We pay that premium by staying disciplined during difficult market environments so that we are positioned for recovery.
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The 15-Minute Quarter: New Year, Same Headlines

The 15-Minute Quarter: New Year, Same Headlines

2021 Year-End Review We are finally into a new year, but we are still seeing the same headlines. Rising interest rates. Inflation surging. Build Back Better is back on the Senate floor. The media has proven to continue to be in the business of selling advertising and not financial advice! Roth conversions are still available, and more.
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The 15-Minute Quarter: Back in Tax

The 15-Minute Quarter: Back in Tax

Q3 - 2021 Quarterly Market Summary With the exception of emerging markets, the global equity markets were pretty quiet along with the global fixed income markets. We discuss some of the key headlines coming out of capitol hill regarding tax law changes on the horizon.
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The 15-Minute Quarter: Everything is Bigger Everywhere

The 15-Minute Quarter: Everything is Bigger Everywhere

Q2 - 2021 Quarterly Market Summary "Everything is Bigger Everywhere" is the title of this quarterly summary as global equity markets surge. Oil prices hit a two-year high as OPEC sees more demand. A cyberattack on US pipeline forces closure. US inflation hits 13-year high as prices surge. The fed pencils in earlier than expected interest rate increase.
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The 15-Minute Quarter: Small Cap Takes a Victory Lap

The 15-Minute Quarter: Small Cap Takes a Victory Lap

Q1 - 2021 Quarterly Market Summary A full year after the start of the pandemic, we reflect back on the victory lap small cap stocks have taken over the last year. A year ago, the headlines were "at least a fourth of the US economy goes idle from lockdown" and "decade of job gains erased in April". What a difference a year makes. The Dow closes above 33,000 for the first time, and the Russell 2000 up 15% just this year.
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Ebooks:

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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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Avoid Emotional Money Mistakes

Avoid Emotional Money Mistakes

Making financial decisions with confidence Experienced leaders understand that emotional reactions and split- second decisions rarely yield the best results. When challenges arise, business owners and executives instead rely on data, thoughtful strategies, and experience to help their organizations achieve performance goals. The same is true for personal finances. When uncertainty arises or things do not go as planned, letting emotion guide your decision-making can have profound financial implications. After years of hard work to achieve success, it can be extremely difficult to separate emotions from disciplined decision-making. Even a brief moment of compromised judgment can have a lasting effect on your financial health and legacy. To help you avoid missteps, a team of fiduciary-level advisors can provide valuable objectivity and a voice of reason when complex emotions are involved. This ebook examines situations that can sometimes lead to emotional decision-making and how the right advisors can help you stay on track toward successful wealth management.
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