The Power of Purpose Trusts
Planning in Focus is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. In this episode we discuss purpose trusts and how they can be utilized in business planning.
Newsworthy Topics
Purpose Trusts: A Modern Tool for Wealth Planning
Wealth planning strategies are rarely about numbers alone, and traditional structures may not meet the complex long-term goals individuals seek to achieve. One planning concept that has gained increased attention in recent years is the purpose trust, designed to carry-out a defined objective rather than simply distributing assets to beneficiaries. Purpose trusts are not new, but their…
Roth Changes for High Earners in 2026
Planning in Focus is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. Secure Act 2.0 is reshaping retirement contributions for high earners. Business owners, are you prepared? Ensure your plan includes Roth options, communicate the changes, and take this opportunity to optimize your retirement offerings. Matthew Thornton, CFA, breaks down how to navigate…
Winter 2026 Newsletter
Our winter newsletter offers timely insights to help you plan for the year ahead.
Webinar Replay: 2026 Economic & Market Outlook
Our Chief Investment Officer and senior investment leadership team delivered an in-depth look at the forces shaping the economy and financial markets in 2026. They broke down key trends, risks, and opportunities—providing insights to help position investment strategies for success in a rapidly evolving landscape. Watch the replay to gain clarity and confidence as you…
The Human Edge: What AI Can’t Replicate in Planning
The Rise of AI in Financial Services Artificial Intelligence (AI) is arguably the most transformative technological advancement since the internet. It enables rapid information retrieval through rule-based engines and parameters, evolving at an unprecedented pace. AI has improved efficiencies across industries — from operations to decision-making to research — and financial services is no exception….
How to Set Smart Financial Goals
Planning in Focus is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. In this episode, we break down how to use the SMART acronym to set clear, achievable financial goals.
Making the Most of Bonus Season: Smart Planning for High-Earning Professionals
For many professionals, bonus season is both rewarding and complex. While a year-end payout can represent a substantial portion of total compensation, it also presents an opportunity—and a challenge—for effective financial and tax planning. Thoughtful preparation can help ensure that your bonus works harder for you, aligning short-term windfalls with long-term wealth strategies. Bonuses are…
Webinar Replay: 2025 Year-End Financial Checklist
As 2025 comes to a close, now is the time to ensure your financial plan is optimized for a strong finish and a successful start to 2026. Watch the replay of our webinar where our financial experts guided viewers through a comprehensive year-end checklist packed with actionable strategies to help: Speakers:
2025 Year-End Planning Insights
Planning in Focus is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week Matt Thornton, CFA® discusses planning strategies for the end of the year.
Strengthening the CIO Engine: Reflections on 2025 and the Road to 2026
Despite cooling economic growth, persistent inflation, and escalating trade tensions, 2025 delivered impressive results: equities posted strong double-digit gains while fixed income achieved its best performance since 2020.
How To Teach Your Kids About Money
Financial literacy starts at home. From teaching young children about delayed gratification to coaching teens on saving and investing, parents play a vital role in shaping money-smart kids. Matthew Thornton, CFA breaks down practical tips for every age in this week’s Planning in Focus. Planning in Focus is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth…
From Intern to Analyst: Building a Career of Growth at Bryn Mawr Trust
Internships are an exciting opportunity to learn more about an industry, role, and company. For Colton Steele, that opportunity led to a full-time job and exciting career prospects. While earning dual degrees in finance and economics from La Salle University, Steele joined Bryn Mawr Trust as a Corporate Trust Intern in 2024, where hands-on learning…
Social Security Updates: Current Changes and Future Outlook
Social Security Takes Center Stage, Again Social Security remains one of the most important and widely discussed topics in retirement planning, especially with a growing wave of retirees and recent developments surrounding the Old-Age, Survivors, & Disability Insurance Program under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.1 As conversations about benefits, claiming strategies, and the sustainability…
Financial Strategies for Giving Season
Planning in Focus is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease.
2025 Financial Checkup
Planning in Focus is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. From rebalancing portfolios after strong market years to updating beneficiary designations and watching for capital gains, Matt Thornton outlines how to make sure your strategy is aligned with your goals.
The Backdoor Roth Strategy Explained
Planning in Focus is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week we discuss the backdoor Roth IRA strategy and how to navigate income limits while building tax-diversified retirement savings.
Fall 2025 Newsletter
When it comes to wealth management, success isn’t just about beating market benchmarks.
Smarter Wealth: Where Goals Meet Institutional Discipline
When it comes to wealth management, success isn’t just about beating market benchmarks.
WEBINAR REPLAY: Getting a Jumpstart on Taxes: How to Prepare for a Stress Free Tax Season
Our experts unpacked a step-by-step guide to getting ahead of the upcoming tax season. We covered critical year-end actions, essential filing requirements, and strategic timing decisions that can significantly impact your tax liability. Whether you’re a pre-retiree, business owner, or managing family finances, this session provided actionable insights to help you stay ahead of key…
When Should You Claim Social Security?
Planning in Focus is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week we discuss social security.
October: National Retirement Security Month
October is National Retirement Security Month—a great reminder to pause and check in on your financial security. Retirement planning is more than just numbers; it is about preparing for your life’s unexpected turns, protecting your loved ones and giving yourself the confidence to make choices that align with your values. Research shows individuals who plan…
Financial Planners Can Bridge the Gap
As you accumulate wealth over a lifetime, complexity follows. Early in your career, financial planning may have consisted of budgeting, cash flow, building an emergency fund, and getting proper insurance in place. You may even engage an advisor for investing, an attorney to draft wills, or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to do your taxes….
Government Shutdown: Short-Term Disruption, Limited Financial Long-Term Impact
Washington is once again in a government shutdown. Investors may be asking, does this really matter for the economy and markets? History provides a valuable perspective. What History Shows Shutdowns occur when Congress fails to pass appropriation bills or a temporary funding extension. When that happens, federal agencies close, hundreds of thousands of workers are…
Tax-Smart Retirement Planning
Planning in Focus is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week we discuss tax-smart retirement planning.
Redefining Retirement with Christine Benz (Ep. 1)
Retirement isn’t just about money; it’s about how you spend your time, maintain relationships, and create a meaningful life. In this episode, Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy welcome Christine Benz, Morningstar’s Director of Personal Finance, to explore how retirement planning is shifting from purely financial to a more holistic approach. Christine shares insights from her…
Welcome to The Planning Perspectives Podcast (Ep. 0)
Hosts Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy share their journeys, first money memories, and the life lessons behind financial planning. From gravel shovels to fog machines, ballroom dancing to estate planning, they reveal how personal experiences shape the way we view money and life choices. Their candid reflections highlight the emotional and behavioral aspects of financial…
WEBINAR REPLAY: Estate Planning Fundamentals: Protect Your Family & Navigate New Tax Changes
Join our experts for a step-by-step guide to estate planning. We’ll cover fundamental documents every adult should have, explore how major life changes trigger updates to your plan, and review recent estate tax changes with the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Whether you’re just starting your estate planning journey or need to update existing documents, this…
The Costly Blindspot Business Owners Ignore
Planning Perspectives is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week we discuss the costly blindspot business owners ignore.
Should You Invest in Alternatives?
Planning Perspectives is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week we discuss alternative investments.
WEBINAR REPLAY: Unpacking ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and Your Finances
The political landscape is shifting, and with it comes a sweeping set of proposed tax changes known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that could have meaningful impacts on how families build wealth, pass it on, and plan for the future. Our financial planning experts recently broke down what’s on the table, how it may…
The 101 on 529 Accounts
Planning Perspectives is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week, we discuss college savings accounts.
Beauty or Beast: The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and Key Tax Changes to Prepare For
The passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1) has many excited for extensions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act legislation. Others are feeling disheartened by the significant cuts made to important programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Regardless of your personal viewpoint, from a planning standpoint, it’s important to understand what…
Bryn Mawr Trust’s Internship Experience Pushes Jordan Walter Pelzer Out of Comfort Zone
Integrity is a critical trait for any financial planner, but at Bryn Mawr Trust, it’s non-negotiable for everyone, including interns. That experience has been central to Jordan Walter Pelzer’s experience as a Wealth Management Intern with the company. Coming into the summer, Pelzer’s goal was to discover the type of leader he wanted to become….
How to Navigate The New Reality of Retirement
Planning Perspectives is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week, we discuss how to navigate the new reality of retirement.
WEBINAR REPLAY: Making Your Money Last: A Guide to Retirement Income Planning
Retirement is more than just saving—it’s about knowing how to turn those savings into steady, lasting income. In this webinar, we explored how sources like IRAs, 401(k)s, and Social Security can work together to fund your lifestyle. We also discussed how to estimate your monthly and annual income needs while planning for healthcare and other…
Target Date Funds: What You Need to Know
Planning Perspectives is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week, we discuss target date funds.
Are You Financially Responsible for Your Parents?
Planning Perspectives is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week, we discuss generational fiscal responsibility.
Estate Plans: Not Just for the Wealthy
Planning Perspectives is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week, we discuss estate planning.
Smart Foreign Exchange Strategies for Summer Travel: Maximize value and minimize stress with these tips before you take off
As summer travel season approaches, many of our clients are making plans to explore destinations across Europe, Asia, and beyond. Whether your itinerary includes sun-soaked beaches, historic cities, or family adventures abroad, it’s important to think ahead when managing foreign currency needs. Smart foreign exchange (FX) strategies can help you avoid unnecessary fees, reduce risk,…
WEBINAR REPLAY: 2025 Mid-Year Economic & Market Outlook: Risks and Opportunities Ahead
The first half of 2025 has seen shifting political landscapes and global uncertainties, making it more important than ever to stay informed. Watch the replay of our Mid-Year Economic & Market Outlook to get clarity on what these changes mean for your financial plan and understand the economic and market trends that could shape the…
Four Documents Every Adult Needs
Planning Perspectives is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week, we discuss the four key pillars of an estate plan.
Wills vs. Trusts: Which One Do You Need?
Planning Perspectives is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week, we discuss the differences between wills and trusts.
Building Generational Wealth: How To Avoid the “Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves” Phenomenon
Planning Perspectives is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week, we discuss how to avoid the “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves” phenomenon.
Partner with a Private Banker for Your IOLTA Needs
An Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (IOLTA) is a type of trust account used by attorneys to hold client funds that are either too small in amount or held for too short a period to generate interest for the individual client. Instead of the interest benefiting the client, the interest is pooled and directed toward…
Unlocking Your Home’s Hidden Potential: How a HELOC Can Help You Move Beyond ‘Golden Handcuffs’ and Transform Your Living Space
If you’re among the millions of Americans, like my wife and I, who purchased or refinanced their homes during the early years of the pandemic, you were likely fortunate enough to secure a mortgage rate between 2.5% and 4%. Mortgage rates reached an all-time low in January of 2021, but have since more than doubled,…
Do You Need a Financial Advisor?
Planning Perspectives is your guide to navigating the complexities of wealth management with ease. This week, we discuss how to determine if you need a financial advisor.
WEBINAR REPLAY: Steady Your Financial Plan in an Uncertain Market
In this webinar, we discuss understanding tariffs, trade tensions, and how to stay calm amid uncertainty.
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