The Phases of Retirement – Knowing Is Power

 What to expect just before and right after you retire.

By:  Nancy T. Bell

Most people do not resist change. What we resist is transition. Change is a situational shift. Transition, on the other hand, is the process of letting go of the way things used to be . . .

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Winter 2019 Market Commentary: Disruption and Disarray

 Winter 2019 Market Commentary Discusses Volatility

By:  J. Reed Murphy

While the market in 2018 started off strong, by December, it was in disarray. As we discuss in this month’s commentary, “Disruption and Disarray,” December 2018 was in fact the worst December for the . . .

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The Benefits of a Team-Based Approach to Tax Planning

 The changing tax landscape demands a change in tax strategy.

By:  Frederick W. Lundin

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted at the end of 2017 changed the tax landscape substantially. The traditional tax landscape and year-end tax planning strategies still apply, but it is now more . . .

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Fall 2018 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

How many people will dress their pets in costumes this Halloween? Just how impactful is 3D printing? Which holiday provides the biggest return? Test your knowledge in the latest edition of "Did . . .

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Summer 2018 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

Which metaphors have nautical origins? Which continents have World Cup winning countries? How many products could be included in the global trade war? Test your knowledge in this latest edition of . . .

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Why High-Income Earners Spend Too Much Money

 10 traps that can lead to financial insecurity.

“If you can’t live on $200K, you have a spending problem, not an earning problem.” This observation is the cornerstone of a recent article posted to WhiteCoatInvestor.com, “10 Reasons Doctors Spend . . .

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Audio-Visual of the 2018 Winter Market Commentary

 Economy and Market Predictions: Things that Have Never Been & Ten for 2018

By:  J. Reed Murphy

To help you get the most out of our 2018 Winter Market Commentary — “Things that Have Never Been & Ten for 2018” — we have created a brief video presentation with voice-over by CIO Reed Murphy . . .

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Know Your Key Numbers for 2018

 Tax reference numbers at a glance.

Tax planning is an essential component to your financial goal management. The 2018 Key Numbers is a handy reference that provides a high-level overview of the key financial data you’ll need for . . .

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The Dos and Don’ts of Paying for Your Child’s College Education

 5 priorities before footing the tuition bill.

Parents instinctively want to provide for their children, which often means they want to pay for their children’s education. Some even sacrifice their future retirement in order to put their child . . .

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Fall 2017 Market Commentary

 Trick or Treat, Price or Value, & Others

By:  J. Reed Murphy

In the latest Market Commentary, “Choices: Trick or Treat, Price or Value, & Others,” President and CIO Reed Murphy comments on market trends and provides insights on: What is more important: . . .

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Summer 2017 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

A changing retail landscape. Growth of non-U.S. equity markets. Foreign markets. These are just a few of the headlines shaping the market. How well are you keeping on top of the stories? Test your . . .

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Matters of Trust

 Quarterly Newsletter - Winter 2017

By:  J. Reed Murphy

Times they are a changin’. With the inauguration of President-elect Trump on the horizon, there are many questions about how the markets and economy will respond. Can stocks repeat a return . . .

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Women’s Health Care Tab in Retirement: $79,000 More Than Men’s

 Problem is, women have fewer financial resources to pay for it.

A recent report on health care costs by Health View Services found that the majority of women aren’t saving enough for health care in retirement. According to the study, women’s health care tabs . . .

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Transitions

 Fall 2016 Market Commentary

By:  J. Reed Murphy

This fall, in keeping with the season, the market is marked by transition. How will the market react following the 2016 U.S. presidential election? What are the implications of the transition . . .

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Geopolitics: Is Anger the New Hope?

 Summer 2016 Market Commentary

By:  J. Reed Murphy

What is at the heart of Brexit and the rise of populism? Do U.S. politics affect the markets? What are portfolio implications of all this volatility? These are just a few issues that Trust Company . . .

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The British Are Leaving! The British Are Leaving!

 The financial implications of the Brexit.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

In a twisted play on the famous Paul Revere warning that “The British Are Coming!” the British people voted to leave the European Union (EU). This announcement is reaching far beyond the . . .

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The Simple Path to the Retirement of Your Dreams

 How to take advantage of your company’s retirement plan.

By:  Michael R. McMorris

Retirement saving is not rocket science. Yet, you would think it must be given how many workers – in all industries and professions, and at all income levels – do not take the few simple steps to . . .

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The Flaw in Our Decision-Making Process

 Harvard Psychologist Dan Gilbert on “Why We Make Bad Decisions”

Every day we make decisions. Sometimes, we wonder if we’ve made the wrong one—and our happy ending is at stake. To help us understand the difference of a good and bad decision, Dan Gilbert, a . . .

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Take Advantage of Required Retirement Plan Restatements

 Alphabet soup for the plan sponsor’s soul.

By:  Tami Bowman

The lingo retirement plan services providers use often sounds a lot like alphabet soup. TRA86, GUST, EGTRRA—these retirement plan acronyms can be befuddling. However overwhelming the acronyms can . . .

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Stock Market 2016: What you can expect

 The major themes driving the market the year ahead.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

2015 was not a year to remember for the stock market. According to the Trust Company’s Chief Investment Officer, J. Reed Murphy, only ten U.S. stocks in the S&P 500 were positive; the other 490 were . . .

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Lead Your Employees to a Secure Future

 Why it’s your duty and your gain.

By:  Michael R. McMorris

I recently led a 401(k) education workshop for a client’s employees. The CEO and founder of the company told me, “Early in my career the company I worked for sponsored a 401(k) plan. If we didn’t . . .

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Know Your Key Numbers for 2019

 Tax reference numbers at a glance.

Tax planning is an essential component to your financial goal management. The 2019 Key Numbers is a handy reference that provides a high-level overview of the key financial data you’ll need for . . .

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Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

Just how much did we spend this holiday season? How much has economic expansion grown from its prior peak? How many 1% moves did the S&P have in 2018 and what is the long-term average? Test your . . .

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Fall 2018 Market Commentary Video

 Elephants, Donkeys & History Books: A look at volatility, political midterms and economic headwinds & tailwinds.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

To help you get the most out of our 2018 Fall Commentary — “Elephants, Donkeys & History Books” — we have created a brief video presentation with voiceover by CIO Reed Murphy. In the video, Murphy . . .

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The Key to Business Owners Socking It Away

 How retirement plan design can help business owners catch up on retirement savings while maximizing tax deductibility and asset protection.

By:  Michael R. McMorris

An interview with Retirement Plan Services Director Michael McMorris Ten years ago, the Great Recession knocked out the American economy. Small businesses – led by gritty entrepreneurs – . . .

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Celebrating 25 Years

 TC Wealth Partners and the Trust Company of Illinois Celebrate 25 Years of Serving High Net Worth Individuals, Families and Institutions.

TC Wealth Partners, LLC, a Chicago-area RIA with expertise in financial planning, investments, trust services, and corporate retirement plans, will celebrate its affiliate’s, the Trust Company of . . .

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Spring 2018 Market Commentary: What Is Given Can Be Taken Away

 The good, the bad and the ugly of tariffs.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

President Trump’s actions and policies have driven the markets, particularly of late — both up and down. New domestic tax policies boosted prospects for growth in the U.S. economy and gave cheer to . . .

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What You Need to Know about Tax Reform

 Key Highlights for You: How your taxes may be impacted in 2018.

By:  Frederick W. Lundin

On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law HR 1, commonly known as the “tax cuts and jobs act.” It is the largest tax reform bill since the 1986 reform by President Ronald Reagan. While . . .

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Winter 2018 Market Commentary: Things That Have Never Been & Ten For 2018

 Market predictions and insights for the year to come.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

As we welcome the new year, full of things that have yet to be seen, we reflect on the tumultuous days of 2017 and look forward to what 2018 might hold. In the Winter Market Commentary, “Things That . . .

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Parents of College Students Offer Their Hard-Earned Advice

 What you should and shouldn’t do for your college-bound student.

Should you take on debt to put your child through college? How do you prepare your student for real life after college? What if your child fails a class—should you continue to support him/her? These . . .

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Fall 2017 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

How much are Americans spending on Halloween treats? Are the number of stocks on the rise or decline? And how long does it typically take the market to recover from a crisis? Test your knowledge in . . .

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Spring and Carousels

 Spring 2017 Market Commentary: Trump, the Fed, and Global Growth

By:  J. Reed Murphy

Spring 2017 ushers in renewed optimism in world economies and investment markets. From where does the optimism arise? In the latest Market Commentary, “Spring and Carousels,” CIO Reed Murphy . . .

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Know Your Key Numbers for 2017

 Tax reference numbers at a glance.

Tax planning is an important component to financial goal management. The 2017 Key Numbers is a handy reference that provides a high-level overview of the key financial data you’ll need for 2017, . . .

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Market Update: The Trump Report

 Questions and Positioning:
“How should I invest for a Trump presidency?”

By:  J. Reed Murphy

As the inauguration of President-elect Trump approaches, there are many questions about how the market and economy will react. Trust Company CIO Reed Murphy discusses a few plausible outcomes. Read . . .

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Money Market Reform and Investor Impact

 How TC Wealth Partners is responding to the changes.

In response to the financial crisis of 2007-2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission has introduced new regulations on money market funds to improve the stability of money markets and prohibit . . .

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Fighting Financial Phobias

 Empowering women to own their money.

Destitute and on the streets. It’s a fear held by one third of women with household incomes of $200,000 or more, according to a 2013 Allianz study. First coined in the 1970s as the Bag Lady . . .

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Economic Realities and Investment Opportunities

 CIO Reed Murphy speaks on volatility at the Spring Conference.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

With the decline of global equities in the first quarter of 2016 - a drop of over 11.5% from the beginning of the year through February 11th - investors’ behavior became driven by fear. Consequently, . . .

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Tricks of the Hacker Trade

 The simple ways to stay ahead of them.

According to Jerry Irvine, CIO and partner of Prescient Solutions, a Chicago-area IT staffing organization, the average person receives 75 phishing scams a day and clicks on 25 of them. . . .

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Bull Markets vs. Bear Markets

 How feelings drive your financial outlook.

“In a bull market you’re not as smart as you think you are and in a bear market you’re not as dumb as you think you are.” This was the best advice blogger and portfolio manager Ben Carlson received . . .

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Charitable Contributions from IRAs

 How much you can exclude from your income in 2016.

Background The Pension Protection Act of 2006 first allowed taxpayers age 70½ or older to make tax-free charitable donations directly from their IRAs. Technically, these taxpayers were allowed to . . .

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Swiss-Cheese Security

 How hackers are poking into your online financial records.

“Firewalls today look like Swiss cheese,” says Jerry Irvine, CIO and partner of Prescient Solutions, a Chicago-area IT staffing organization. Despite our best attempts to protect ourselves and . . .

Contains Video

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Why So Much Market Volatility?

 A webinar with insights by President and CIO J. Reed Murphy

By:  J. Reed Murphy

To complement this quarter’s commentary, “Disruption and Disarray,” President and CIO Reed presented a webinar on market volatility. Watch the webinar now for an explanation of just how bad . . .

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The Ins and Outs of Claiming Your Survivor Benefit

 Why It Might Make Sense to Wait to Collect Your Survivor Benefit

By:  Jill L. Ward

Chances are if you recently lost your spouse and call the Social Security Administration to inquire about your survivor benefit, they’ll say, “You’re eligible now. You should take it now.” But slow . . .

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Fall 2018 Market Commentary: Elephants, Donkeys & History Books

 A look at volatility, political midterms and economic headwinds & tailwinds.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

In the winter commentary issued in January of 2018, we wrongly predicted the Cubs would again be headed to the World Series. We are swallowing our pride, and revisiting some of our other Top 10 . . .

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Summer 2018 Market Commentary: Which Way Forward?

 Conflicting Tailwinds and Headwinds: Which Way Forward?

By:  J. Reed Murphy

The economy and markets are at the nexus of positive tailwinds and negative headwinds. Fiscal policy stimulus, strong corporate earnings and unemployment numbers as well as high consumer and . . .

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Passing the Baton before You Retire

 A Q&A with entrepreneur and Trust Company of Illinois founder on how he prepared for his next lap.

Relinquishing the business that has defined you is no walk in the park. For many entrepreneurs, it’s more like a walk through a wilderness. Amazon is populated with books on succession planning. And . . .

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Spring 2018 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

What is a Spaghetti Western? When was the first federal income tax introduced in the United States? Which country has the highest debt as a percent of GDP? Test your knowledge in this latest edition . . .

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10 Ways to Make It Through Life’s Transitions

 Tips for managing the emotional side of change.

Managing life’s many transitions can be difficult. Moving. New job responsibilities. The sudden death of loved one. Marriage. The changes can feel overwhelming and stressful. But often the . . .

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Winter 2018 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

Which current winter Olympic sport was previously a summer one? How many times have rookie professional baseball managers taken their teams back to the playoffs? What decade exhibited the same . . .

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Fall 2017 Market Commentary Video

 To help you better understand the market, economy, and our investment strategy.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

To help you get the most out of our 2017 Fall Commentary — “Choices: Trick or Treat, Price or Value, & Other” — we have created a brief video presentation with voiceover by CIO Reed Murphy. In the . . .

Contains Video

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Mid-Year Check-In

 Summer 2017 Market Commentary: Trump Trade, Global Expansion, and the Fed

By:  J. Reed Murphy

We are mid-way through 2017. Mid-points provide opportunities to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. President Trump has held office for half a year. The Fed has raised interest rates . . .

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Spring 2017 - Did you know?

 A quiz to test your market and economy knowledge.

By:  J. Reed Murphy

Automobile manufacturing. North Korea. Tax repatriation. These are just a few of the headlines shaping the market. How well are you keeping on top of the stories? Test your knowledge of important . . .

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Career Take 2

 How to reinvent yourself midlife.

By:  Nancy T. Bell

The second half of your life can be better than the first. This is the encouraging reality for those of us who feel stuck in the muddled middle of our lives. Perhaps you feel trapped in the doldrums . . .

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Market Update: Post Election Highlights

 What does the Trump presidency mean for the economy and markets?

By:  J. Reed Murphy

Donald Trump won the 2016 U.S. presidential election. This caught pollsters, prognosticators and even many in the Trump camp by surprise. The markets were also surprised. How will Trump’s . . .

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TC Wealth Partners Recruits Greg Aagaard as Market Development Officer

 Chicago-area wealth management firm expands reach with new hire.

DOWNERS GROVE August 8, 2016 Trust Company of Illinois recently hired Greg Aagaard as Market Development Officer to expand its outreach to the greater Chicago area and beyond. Aagaard’s approach to . . .

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Good Reads for Raising Normal Kids in an Entitled World

 Andrew Keyt recommends resources to help parents understand and talk about wealth.

It’s a conundrum. The majority of American parents admit to being either very or extremely concerned about setting a good financial example for their children, but 72% are reluctant to talk about . . .

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Smart Mom, Rich Mom

 The Mom-Money Connection

The mom-money connection is the focus of a new book by Kimberly Palmerbrook, mom of two and former U.S. News & World Report senior editor of money. In Smart Mom, Rich Mom: How to Build Wealth While . . .

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Passions, Exaggerations & Fundamentals

 Spring 2016 Market Commentary

By:  J. Reed Murphy

The first quarter of 2016 was marked by passion and exaggerations. There was a runaway of negative sentiment, many fearing the global economy was headed into a recession. Are we headed for a . . .

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Your Advisor. Your Choice.

 When changing your financial advisor may be the right move.

Dana was nervous as she entered our offices. She was being transitioned to my care after her wealth advisor left the firm. The relationship she had forged with her previous advisor, with whom she had . . .

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4 Reasons for Recent Market Volatility

 Market Commentary, January 18, 2016

By:  J. Reed Murphy

As we recently communicated, we expect volatility to return to the markets. We are amidst this as equity markets experienced a very tough first week of the New Year with a better second week, albeit . . .

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All Things China

 Market Commentary, January 7, 2016

By:  J. Reed Murphy

Even by rough-and-tumble standards, China had another bad day on Thursday. Another trading halt was implemented following a 7% drop within 29 minutes for one of its exchanges, of which China has . . .

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