Wisdom for Your
Financial Journey

In the beloved Christmas carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” the true love gave five golden rings on the fifth day of Christmas. Ever wonder about the value of five golden rings? As an investment, and one that attracts significant attention during inflationary times and global crises, the price of gold recently reached a new high following the Israel/Hamas conflict and the expectations that the Federal Reserve may lower interest rates in 2024, potentially loosening monetary policy.

The Fall 2023 newsletter explores the coming generational wealth transfer of approximately $68 trillion and examines how Christian families can intentionally pass down both assets and values to the next generation. The issue features guidance on preparing heirs, year-end financial planning, and strategies for ensuring younger generations embrace stewardship principles aligned with Christian faith.

Our firm is entering an exciting new season as we officially change our name to Blue Trust. This new name continues to honor our founder, Ron Blue, and the legacy he built but also reflects our commitment to innovation, growth, and progress. Although our name is changing, our values and mission will remain the same.

Since 2009, investors have had very little opportunity to earn a yield on their cash. However, interest rates have risen dramatically in the last two years as the Federal Reserve has aggressively tightened monetary policy, allowing investors to earn upward of 5% with money market funds, high-yield savings accounts, Treasury bills (T-bills), etc. In contrast, cash equivalents earned essentially nothing as recently as early 2022.

Since 1938, Veterans Day has been recognized as a national holiday to honor those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. On October 8, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower designated November 11, the day that marked Armistice Day and the end of World War I, as Veterans Day.

Blue Trust outlines its Principles-Based Investing framework, a systematic approach developed after the 2008 financial crisis to help investors gain clarity and confidence in achieving their financial goals. The whitepaper explains how the firm addresses common investor shortfalls—unrealistic expectations, lack of disciplined decision-making, and absence of planning.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas initiated a surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 1,300 people and taking hostages back to Gaza. We are heartbroken by the loss of life and grieve with those who have lost loved ones. We pray for those who are suffering and join the rest of the world in praying that this conflict will end soon.

“…Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 (NIV) Are you believing God can do all things, big and small, beyond what our minds can grasp?

The fourth quarter 2023 economic review examines persistent uncertainties including the Fed's rate-hiking trajectory, recession timing, and AI valuation concerns, while highlighting positive developments in equity markets, economic resilience, cooling inflation, and labor-market strength.

For more than a decade, U.S. stocks have essentially been the only game in town. Emerging markets (EM), such as China, India, and Mexico, have been left behind as the dominance of the “FAANG” stocks (an acronym representing Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google) powered markets higher. A new group of stocks, dubbed the “Magnificent Seven,” consists of most of the FAANG stocks but also includes Microsoft and highfliers like Nvidia and Tesla.

The recent near-highs of the stock market are masking a trend from the last few decades: The number of publicly traded U.S. companies has dropped significantly.

This summer newsletter explores how families can intentionally build and communicate their values to the next generation. Covering topics from family culture and financial fraud protection to investment insights, the issue emphasizes the importance of explicit conversations about beliefs, shared experiences, and legacy planning to create lasting family traditions and prepare heirs for wealth…