Blog

In December 2022, Congress passed an update to the SECURE Act (originally signed into law in 2019) which included some items that could impact your retirement strategy. Many of these changes enhance benefits of the...

With the story lines of 2022 in the rear-view mirror, we look forward to 2023 and how to best prepare your financial plan. Markets will continue their ever-changing nature and ability to stump pundits who venture to look...

2022 was a year that we entered into hopeful for a “return to normal” after the Covid years of 2020 and 2021. It was anything but normal; marked by a number of extraordinary “once every 20 to 40...

The year 2022 will not soon be forgotten from a financial markets standpoint. While markets took us on quite the rollercoaster ride this year, there are some positive takeaways highlighted in the second half of the video below...

A review of tax planning is important as we approach the end of another year. See below for a few items to think through and take action on before 2023 arrives. Capital Gains Planning - In March, we posted an article...

We’d like to wrap up our three-part series on estate planning by discussing high-level estate tax planning concepts and strategies. Be sure to review our previous articles on Wills and Trusts and Asset Protection which...

Two weeks ago we started a three-part series on estate planning. As a recap – we’re discussing the three subject areas below: Wills and Trusts – these documents include your wishes for asset distribution...

Midterm elections will be held in the U.S. on November 8, 2022. The results will determine the balance of political power in Congress for the next two years and could potentially impact issues such as taxes, government spending, trade...

We are proud to serve as the title sponsor for the Corners Outreach annual gala and 10-year anniversary celebration, Evening With a Purpose, held on Thursday, October 20th at the Atlanta Athletic Club.  Corners Outreach seeks to...

Estate planning is vitally important when creating a holistic financial plan. Our firm, along with an estate attorney, advises many of our clients when creating their estate plan to help determine what should happen to assets...

September brought another downswing in the bear market that we’ve been in for most of this year. Through the third quarter, domestic stocks are down 25% and foreign stocks are down more than 30%. Adding insult...

Last week, Childs Company served as a lead sponsor to celebrate 40 years of Camp Horizon. This organization has been close to our hearts and important to our firm for almost a decade. Our partner Andrew Henry served on the...

Business owners should not only look into personal insurance to protect family finances, but they also need to review opportunities to safeguard the stability of their company should something happen to themselves or a key employee...

Questions always arise about life insurance during financial planning meetings. Insurance is an important item to discuss, and each individual or family has a unique solution. Life insurance should be reviewed when major life events...

We’ve heard rumblings the last few months that shifts are occurring in the commercial and residential real estate markets.  A number of factors have created headwinds for real estate including higher interest rates, inflated...

We hope you and your families enjoyed a wonderful 4th of July. Unfortunately, investors haven’t had much to celebrate recently as we just lived through the worst first half in financial markets in the last fifty...

We are delighted to share that John Andrew Henry made his arrival on 05/12/2022 to our partner Andrew Henry and his wife Anne. Mom and baby are settling in, and big brother James (age 3) has been very helpful over the last...

 “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.” – Warren Buffett. Friends, The above phrase kept coming to mind as markets slipped into bear market territory this month. This is when...

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” – Yogi Berra  After finishing 2020 and 2021 with robust gains, the S&P 500 index is down around 20% this year, as of this writing. Adding to the pain, the...

We’re proud and excited for our client Ryan Blackburn with the launch of his new industrial real estate firm, Apex Industrial Real Estate Advisors. At 35, Ryan has over a decade of experience serving clients in the...

Stock and bond markets have had a wild ride. What’s driving this recent volatility and what’s an investor to do?  "I did not succeed in life because of intelligence. I did because I have a long attention...

Fixed income has been a hot topic of discussion this year with regards to investment strategy given the current economic and geopolitical environment.  Typically, investors maintain an allocation to fixed income...

We are happy to serve as a corporate sponsor for the Greater Johns Creek YoungLife charity golf tournament held on May 2nd, 2022, at St. Ives Country Club. We’ve had many clients and their children volunteer and participate in...

As predicted, financial markets have been challenging thus far this year. Both domestic and foreign stocks are down around 7% year to date with value sectors (energy, financials, materials, etc.) outperforming growth sectors...

We are pleased to be a corporate sponsor for the Rainbow Village Second Chance Golf Classic to be held on Monday, April 18th at TPC Sugarloaf.  Rainbow Village is a local non-profit which serves families with children who are...

Friends,  Tax-loss harvesting is a strategy to sell certain positions at a loss to offset current or future capital gains. This is a timely topic given the current environment. Taking advantage of tax-loss harvesting turns this...

Friends, Watching the events unfold the past two weeks in Ukraine has been very upsetting. Our prayers go out for the Ukrainian people, for Americans and for the world. The attached video from Kara Murphy, Chief Investment...

In 2006 the Roth 401(k) was introduced as an option for employees participating in company 401(k) plans. A majority of businesses now allow for employees to decide between contributing to the Roth 401(k) or Traditional 401(k) (or both)...

Friends, We’ve discussed this topic in the past but we believe analyzing the benefits a Roth conversion can provide is worth revisiting. See below for items to consider when making your decision. Income Taxes – converting...

Friends,  Many individuals have already made retirement plan contributions for 2021, but some plans allow for contributions until the 2021 tax return is filed. See below for different options and contribution deadlines. 401(k)...

Friends, We wanted to briefly highlight a new tax bill passed in GA that could impact pass-through entity owners. Also, changes were made to contribution limits for pass-through entities if contributing to Student Scholarship...

Friends, As mentioned in our Q4 2021 newsletter that went out last week, we were past due for a normal correction and 2022 could prove to be a more challenging environment for investors. See the video below for comments on market...

Dear Friends, 2021 will be remembered as the year of a massive rebound and recovery from the depths of the pandemic which broke out in the first quarter of 2020. The first half of 2021 saw the introduction of effective vaccines and the...

Friends, We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to the year ahead. Many of you spend the weeks around January 1 as a time to reflect upon the previous twelve months and plan for the upcoming year. If you...

Selling to a private equity firm is yet another option when determining how to sell your business. Unlike a strategic buyer (as discussed a few weeks ago), private equity firms raise capital from institutions or high-net-worth...

Friends, The Fed has entered one of the most-difficult phases of its pandemic response as it begins to dial back stimulus measures even before the full effects of its policies are felt and amid new risks. Yesterday (12/15/2021), the...

Exiting a family business presents its own set of challenges and requires some forethought to ensure successful outcomes for all parties involved. Selling a multi-generational business can be more emotional and tricky, and...

Friends, As the year draws to a close, there a few things to think through from a tax and investment standpoint to ensure efficiency and maximize benefits. We do recommend meeting with your tax planner to gauge if any new opportunities...

We’re continuing a series on options for those looking to transition their business by briefly discussing strategic buyers. The strategic buyer typically has a business in the same or similar industry interested in vertical or...

Friends, The RMD was suspended in year 2020 due to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, but eligible account holders must resume in 2021. As the end of the year approaches, we’re reaching out to clients...

Several of our clients have gone through or are considering the next steps to transition or exit a business. Business owners have multiple options to consider when evaluating their exit strategies. An employee stock ownership plan...

Friends, The pandemic has been blamed for disrupting the global supply chain and stoking inflationary pressures. But other issues have contributed to our supply-chain woes. Rising prices can lead to downward pressure on stocks, but we...

Friends, We are excited for one of our clients, Lisa Odai, and the launch of her new business. Go check out www.211towaterloo.com to explore gift boxes for a special occasion or corporate event. Inspired by founder Lisa Odai’s...

As part of the SECURE Act, passed in late December of 2019, a provision allows for employers of any size to pool their retirement plans into a single 401(k) plan called a Pooled Employer Plan (PEP). Many small businesses are unable to...

Friends, September was a difficult month for the financial markets, but year to date performance for the stock market is still strong. Through the third quarter, the U.S. stock market was up 15% year to date. Foreign stock markets were...

We’ve fielded several questions around available options for lending or cash liquidity this year. Several choices include personal loans, Home Equity (HELOC), or a cash out refinance. One possibility that some may not be aware of...

We are proud to announce that Childs Company will serve as a primary sponsor of the Corners Outreach Annual Banquet, Evening With a Purpose, which will be held on Thursday October 28th at 6pm at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Founded by...

Friends, In addition to serving our individual clients – we have built a practice that also advises on company retirement plans. If you own a business, or know someone that does, we believe each plan should be benchmarked every...

Friends, Andrew Henry joined the ProfitSense podcast hosted by Bill McDermott, to discuss how we integrate business and personal financial plans for owners, advise on retirement plans and shed light on exit strategies. For...

Continuing our examination of financial independence, we’d like to explore questions that people over 40 years of age should be asking that can help ensure they’re on pace for independence. How you have managed finances for...

Last week, our article discussed the 6 fundamentals we believe influence the ability to attain financial independence, an endeavor pursued by many. This week, we’d like to suggest a few strategies in applying those fundamentals...

Whether or not the concept of financial independence is a term frequently used in your vocabulary, we’re willing to bet it’s not too far from the mind of most adults. At some point, most people would like to have the peace...

We’ve all known for some time that the Biden administration wants to increase income and estate taxes in a variety of ways. Their proposals include raising the top income tax rate for couples filing jointly to 39.6% on income...

We are proud to announce that Childs Company will serve as the lead sponsor for the PCBA (Peachtree Corners Business Association) “Passport to Paradise” Charity Party on Thursday night August 26th at the Curiosity Lab in...

Dear Friends, As we enter the second half of 2021, we are in the midst of a global economic recovery from the pandemic-induced recession, and the U.S. stock market is at or near its record high. A host of factors have contributed to...

Friends, Recent events involving Colonial Pipeline and meat supplier JBS have sparked news around large payoffs to hackers and continued to raise concerns over cyberattacks and ransom ware. While still in their infancy, cyber liability...

Friends, A few weeks ago, we highlighted two retirement plans for business owners to consider when establishing benefits for themselves and their employees: the 401(k) plan or SIMPLE IRA. Realizing that max efficiency and tax savings...

Friends, For many business owners, the decision as to which retirement plan best fits their company proves to be rather challenging. There are several different options with varying advantages and restrictions. The size of business,...

Friends, In late April President Biden and the White House laid out the first draft and details of the American Families Plan. The $1.8 trillion package proposes sweeping legislation which the White House refers to as a...

Friends, Recently, you may have seen reports that a record-low number of homes are available for sale compared to the past 10 years. It's no surprise that many hopeful homebuyers are having issues securing a home.1 Lack of inventory...

Dear Friends, A lot happened during the first quarter of 2021. January ushered in a power shift in Washington which was followed by a $1.9 trillion stimulus package. In addition to the stimulus package and continued monetary policy...

Friends, We are proud to continue our support of Camp Horizon as a Premier Sponsor for their annual “Foster the Funk” fundraiser. On Saturday May 1st Zoo Atlanta will serve as an exciting new venue and host. Fortunately the...

We are proud of our friends at WH Bass, a 100% employee-owned general contracting firm, for being named as one of Atlanta’s Top Workplaces in 2021. Founded in 1984, WH Bass has grown into one of Atlanta’s largest...

The life of a business owner is a busy and challenging life. Most business owners and senior executives have devoted most or all of their life’s work to developing and growing their business. Unfortunately, many business owners...

Friends, The House passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) last Wednesday, and the Act was signed into law at the White House on Thursday March 11. The Act is intended to help the economy in its continued climb from the descent...

Friends, You’ve probably seen headlines or heard pundits mention inflation a time or two over the last few weeks. At its foundation, inflation occurs when prices rise while goods and services remain consistent. The passage of yet...

This month, America honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.As we look around today, we see manifestations of that legacy in the form of stronger, more diverse communities, in the continued fight for equality, and in the...

Dear Friends, Happy New Year…and good riddance to 2020! As you know, 2020 was an extraordinary year in many ways, including in the financial markets. The initial shock of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a massive selloff of...

As we look forward to 2021 in the coming weeks, it’s a great practice to review all areas of your financial plan. This provides the opportunity to incorporate any changes that have happened during the last year or fine-tune goals...

Participating in year-end meetings typically leads to discussions regarding charitable donations. The donor-advised fund (DAF) has become increasingly popular over the last several years with the possibility to provide advantages in...

The Roth IRA is one of the most powerful vehicles available for wealth accumulation and transfer… and a Roth option is available in many 401(k) plans. We have recently had several discussions in planning meetings involving the...

For those of you who may be thinking about how or when you can add value to your community or to society at large…. beyond your business or career, here’s a great article from the Halftime Institute. While Bob Buford, the...

As the U.S. digests the election results from last week, we are reviewing potential impacts related to the economy and financial markets while continuing to account for the challenges faced during a global pandemic. At this point, we...

It should come as no surprise that the economy is the most crucial issue in next Tuesday's election. But here's something that may surprise you. More than 90% of investors say they plan to change their portfolio in the 12 months...

Dear Friends, The upcoming election is prompting some people to reconsider their investment strategy. In fact, 45% of consumers with $100,000 or more investable assets expect to make changes to their portfolio due to the upcoming 2020...

Dear Friends, Despite an almost 10% stock market selloff in late September, financial markets were strong in the third quarter. The S&P 500 was up over 8% for the quarter, taking its year-to-date performance to a positive 4%. Due...

Friends, Based in Dallas, Texas the Halftime Institute provides tremendous resources to business owners, executives and professionals who seek to live their lives with more purpose and impact. Spawned by Bob Buford’s best-selling...

We are pleased to support Wellspring Living’s largest annual fundraiser to be held virtually at 7 pm on October 18th. Wellspring Living, an Atlanta based nonprofit, provides domestic sex trafficking victims and those at risk with...

Matt Childs shares his thoughts in an interview by Investor’s Business Daily, a national publication covering financial markets and the economy. “People appreciate humility…. Overconfidence and exaggerating claims is...

We are excited to announce that our friend and client Larry Campbell has been chosen by the Atlanta Braves as a 2020 Community Hero for his work through Corners Outreach. He and Corners Outreach will be featured on the Fox Sports...

Friends, Over the next two months the election will surely command most of the headlines in the news, and the market will take notice as Election Day approaches. As mentioned in our previous election article; we believe fundamentals...

Friends, Let us know if you would like for us to evaluate your financial plan, which includes the techniques mentioned in the below link. We are happy to review with you anytime. Matt and Andrew Click here to view: Long-Term Financial Plan

The article below does a great job of explaining the differences between growth and value investing. Please feel free to reach out to us for our thoughts and how we incorporate them into our investment strategies. Matt and Andrew Value...

Friends, Sector investing allows an investor to concentrate a specific allocation of their portfolio to companies that share similarities in their line of business. The market is comprised of eleven sectors with unique characteristics....

We are proud to be a primary sponsor of the 4 Streams Partners 5th Annual Golf Fundraiser to be held on August 31st, 2020 at the Country Club of Roswell. Founded by our friend Buz Mayo in 2009, 4 Streams Partners is a nonprofit...

Friends, While the attached video is somewhat basic, we think the simplicity of the message continues to ring true. Positioning your portfolio based on factors that can be controlled (risk tolerance, time horizon, financial goals) will...

Friends, Over the last several weeks we have received quite a few inquiries regarding mortgage refinancing options. With rates close to historic low levels (30-year around 3% and 15-year under 2.5% as of this writing), it may be a good...

Friends, Every four years, discussion over how the presidential election will impact the market seems to be a consistent topic of conversation up to and through Election Day. While some may think a certain party is “better”...

Dear Friends, We hope you all celebrated a Happy 4th of July weekend. As you are well aware, the first half of 2020 has been anything but normal. We are in the midst of a pandemic, a partial economic shutdown and significant social...

Dear Friends, Please take a moment to check out our new website at www.childscompany.com. It’s got a great new look and feel, and hopefully conveys our approach as well as our deep commitment to our clients and our community....

Friends, The article below feels appropriate given the recently experienced volatility in the market. When markets move either way, the technique of rebalancing an investment portfolio at systematic levels allows the investor to make...

How to Survive…and Thrive …Through an Economic Downturn “Recession is opportunity in wolf’s clothing.” – Robin Sharma “I’ve heard we’re in a recession. I’ve decided not to...

Friends, We understand the potential stress and anxiety that you may be feeling as a result of the Coronavirus and its impact on the economy and financial markets. We have highlighted below a number of financial planning action items...

Friends, We are proud sponsors of Camp Horizon’s “Foster the Funk” benefitting Atlanta’s youth in foster care. We’d love to have everyone join us on Saturday 2/15/20 at the Fernbank Museum with 80s cover...

Friends, Whether you are several years from retirement or beginning to transition away from your career – you likely have some exciting bucket list dreams or wishes! Planning now to financially realize your goals will establish a...

Friends, Some of you may have seen news headlines regarding the recently passed Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act. This law contains fairly significantchanges to a few types of retirement and...

Financial Plan • Formulate goals based on understanding your history, values and impending life transitions.• Develop a holistic balance sheet including all areas of your life (not just your brokerage account).• The plan...

Jim Childs – 2019 Dealmaker of the Year We are proud to recognize and congratulate Jim Childs, CEO and Managing Partner of Bowstring Advisors, a leading investment bank for middle market companies and a division of Citizens...

Allison O’Kelly – CEO & Founder, Corps Team/Mom Corps Childs Company is proud to highlight and say congratulations to our friend and client Allison O’Kelly and her firm Corps Team for being named by the Atlanta...

We are proud to have served as a primary sponsor for Corners Outreach at its 2nd annual banquet and celebration held on Thursday evening September 12th at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Including both a silent and live auction, outstanding...

Childs Company is proud of our friend and client Matthew Benvegna and his company Apex Energy Solutions (located in Alpharetta) for being named #2102 on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company list for 2018. Matt and his team provide the...

Childs Company was a proud sponsor of the 10-Year Anniversary Celebration of Young Life, an organization dedicated to guiding young adults through faith. We invite you to visit the website, www.younglife.org for more information on...

Last month, the Camp Horizon family reunited for the second straight year at Terminal West in Atlanta under one mission: to help restore dignity and hope to Atlanta’s youth in foster care. The event raised over $111,000 with the...