Wealth advisers reveal ways to avoid bumps
Financial markets have been remarkably resilient this year, with various stock indexes notching new record highs, even as a dizzying number of headlines from Washington, D.C., seem poised to whipsaw investors. Uncertainty persists about how the economy — and, by virtue, financial markets — will fare, given President Donald Trump’s moves to aggressively slash federal […]
A new era
The days of decades-high interest rates are over, as the Federal Reserve is ushering in a new era for financial markets — and, in turn, shaking up some of the advice money managers are offering their clients. During one of its regularly scheduled meetings in September, the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee lowered the […]
Reality bites
Gen Xers are next in line for retirement, and most are far from being prepared financially for their golden years. They face a substantial shortfall of funds needed for retirement and the largest savings gap of any generation. “As the first generation to head into retirement largely without the safety net of a defined benefit […]
Wilbanks Smith and Thomas acquired
Norfolk-based Wilbanks Smith and Thomas Asset Management has been acquired by Cleveland-based registered investment adviser Clearstead Advisors. The companies signed the merger in February 2024. Financial terms of the acquisition, which closed April 1, were not disclosed. Clearstead rebranded WST’s advisory business as Clearstead Advisory Solutions, a division of Clearstead Advisors. A wealt[...]
The times they are a-changin’
Talk of a looming recession has seemed endless for the past few years. However, with their eyes on long-term retirement investments, many wealth management advisers’ clients have avoided dramatic, emotion-driven decisions. Educated and guided by advisers, they understand the cyclical nature of investing and therefore are considering varying options on where to put their money. […]
Staying the course
A tanking economy. Rampant inflation. Whiplash in the stock market. What’s an investor to do? Look for opportunities to rebalance portfolios but, in general, hang tight, wealth management professionals say. Or, as one adviser says, buckle up for a roller coaster ride. The economy is likely to worsen, experts say, and despite dickering among economists […]
Navigating metaverse investments
Investors itching to get in on the latest tech trend are zooming in on the metaverse — a presumed future virtual or mixed reality iteration of the internet in which users would navigate 3D environments for working, shopping, socializing and entertainment. By some estimates, the metaverse market could balloon to $5 trillion in annual revenue […]
757 Angels to join VentureSouth network
757 Angels, a Hampton Roads angel investment group that matches venture capitalists with local entrepreneurs, is partnering with VentureSouth, one of the largest angel network groups in the United States, the group announced Friday. The partnership, effective June 2023, will provide more access to capital and investors to 757 Angels’ 140 members. VentureSouth has about […]
Booz Allen Hamilton launches $100M VC fund
Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. has formed a $100 million corporate venture capital arm, the McLean-based Fortune 500 global management consultancy announced Wednesday. Named Booz Allen Ventures LLC, the arm will invest in early-stage companies and technologies across four categories: defense, artificial intelligence/machine learning, cybersecurity and deep technology. “We are proud and excited to cont[...]
YHB to acquire Md. accounting firm
Winchester-based accounting and consulting firm Yount, Hyde and Barbour (YHB) will acquire Maryland-based firm Glass Jacobson PA on July 1. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed in Wednesday’s announcement. “We are excited to welcome the Glass Jacobson team to the YHB family,” YHB Managing Partner Scott Moulden said in a statement. “We expect […]
SPAC-ulative finance
One of the hottest investment tools in the past year and a half has imploded. But don’t give up on special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs as these peculiar financial structures are called, industry experts say. Also called blank-check companies, SPACs are here to stay, but not necessarily at the high-flying levels of 2020 and […]
Finance | Insurance
JOHN ASBURY PRESIDENT AND CEO, ATLANTIC UNION BANKSHARES, RICHMOND A Radford native, Asbury transitioned from a career with large financial institutions to help build a regional bank. After successful mergers in 2018 and 2019, Atlantic Union expanded its footprint in Northern Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, making it the largest regional bank headquartered in Virginia. […]