Posts List

Navigating Policy and Market Shifts As the year draws to a close, our focus at Dillow Wealth Management turns to planning for the year ahead. We've reviewed Morgan Stanley's 2026 Economic Outlook, and I wanted to share the key takeaways that could shape our financial environment. The outlook suggests a complex picture as the economy emerges from a period of policy uncertainty, with the following highlights: Growth & Labor Market GDP : Expect a challenging start to 2026 with the economy at its...

Summary The economic outlook at the close of Q3 2025 is marked by significant fiscal and geopolitical uncertainty. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) is projected to add $4.1–$5.5 trillion to the national debt, potentially pushing debt-to-GDP over 130%. Inflation is expected to rise to 3.0–3.5% by Q4 2025, driven by the current 15.8% effective tariff rate (the highest since the 1930s). Geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East are keeping a risk premium on oil, delaying the first Fed rate...

The “Big Beautiful Bill” moves a long list of TCJA-era tax rules from temporary to (mostly) permanent and layers on targeted new opportunities and limits for both individuals and business owners. For affluent and ultrahighnetworth families—particularly those who built and still own operating companies—this is as much a legacy and exitplanning bill as it is an income tax bill. Below is DWM’s highlevel take on what matters most, and what to start planning for now. Summary Individual tax...

The latest data suggest the U.S. may print a negative real GDP number in the first quarter, but that alone does not mean the economy is in recession. Are we already in a recession? Most traditional indicators still point to a slowing but growing economy, not a fullblown recession. A negative Q1 real GDP print—Atlanta Fed tracking has dipped into negative territory before—can happen even in the middle of an expansion, especially when data are distorted by weather, oneoff shocks, or trade...

As family wealth grows in size and complexity, so do the demands placed on the professionals who support it. Investments, tax planning, legal structures, generational transitions, and education often exist in separate silos—each managed by capable specialists, but rarely coordinated with the full family picture in mind. Family office solutions exist to solve this problem. At Dillow Wealth Management, our role is not to replace trusted attorneys, CPAs, or other advisors, but to coordinate...

For many business owners, succession planning is framed as an exit event—a transaction to be addressed when retirement is near or a sale becomes unavoidable. In reality, the most successful business transitions are not events at all. They are multi‑year processes built on early preparation, intentional leadership development, and thoughtful alignment between ownership, management, and long‑term vision. At Dillow Wealth Management, we view business succession planning as both a financial and...

For some people, financial planning is mainly concerned with how best to go about building a nest egg, and how to make it last through retirement. But for many, there is a desire to ensure their estate delivers benefits beyond their own retirement, and produces a lasting legacy even after they have passed. Why Estate Planning Is Important If you wish to leave behind a lasting legacy, whether it’s for family and loved ones or a charitable institution, then you need to put a well-thought-out...

While many of us don’t realize it, we are constantly engaged in subconscious acts of investment planning. We plan how we can best invest the limited time we have at our disposal. Would the 2-hours we have best be spent visiting a friend at the hospital, or would it be better invested, say, by taking in that ball game? We do some longer-term planning too: Does it pay to invest the effort studying for a degree in Arts, or would we get a better return studying to pass the Bar exam? So, why don’t...

Many individuals confuse financial planning with general savings and investing advice. While how to save (and how much!), and where and when to invest those savings, is every bit important, prudent Financial Planning goes much beyond the realm of just saving and investing. The sooner you understand the role of financial planning in meeting your short, medium and long-term financial aspirations, the better you’ll be able to control your financial destiny. Financial Planning Why Financial...

Long before retirement even hits our radars, we’re planning what type of education, skills training and professional designations we’ll acquire. We also spend a lot of time planning which industries are the best place to work in, and which employers to work for. Once employed, we carefully strategize our every career move, so that we progress to the top of the ladder in our respective fields. Sadly though, while we focus most of our efforts on all these plans, we often forget to plan for...