Our Insights

Travel deep, with insights from St. Louis Trust & Family Office.

Featured

News & Events

John Jennings Publishes First Book: The Uncertainty Solution

Find it on:

The ocean wave imagery is meant to evoke the depth and complexity of issues our clients face.

Top Five

Get started with our top 5 posts in the areas of investment management, family office, and trustee services.

Subscribe

Forbes
Investment Management

How Investors Can Brace For Election Uncertainty

As the U.S. heads into another presidential election, concerns are growing about potential delays in results and the risk of unrest, especially given the heightened polarization in recent years. After...
John M. Jennings, JD
John M. Jennings, JDPresident and Chief Strategist of St. Louis Trust & Family Office
Forbes
Investment Management

How To Manage Private Equity Capital Calls

Years ago, my colleagues and I were asked to evaluate the investment portfolio of a prospective client family. The portfolio was invested in a mix of traditional assets like muni...
John M. Jennings, JD
John M. Jennings, JDPresident and Chief Strategist of St. Louis Trust & Family Office
Investment Management

Five Steps to Align Your Portfolio with Your Values

When considering how to live a more authentic, meaningful life, most people think of things like spending more time with family, doing volunteer work, or giving money to charity. But...
Anna Sears, CFA®
Anna Sears, CFA®Principal
Forbes
Family Office

What Planning Should You Do Prior To Selling Your Company?

Congratulations! You’ve beaten the odds, built an enduring, valuable company, and are looking to sell it. If you’re like most business owners, you’re primarily focused on working with your investment...
John M. Jennings, JD
John M. Jennings, JDPresident and Chief Strategist of St. Louis Trust & Family Office
Family Office

Considerations for Shared Ownership of Family Property

Looking back, Sam, Jane and Nick’s childhood seemed almost perfect. They grew up in a loving extended family, played sports year-round and traveled. A highlight for the three siblings was their summers spent at Manor Grove, their family estate on the Outer Banks bought by their grandparents in the early 1900’s. When their grandparents died, the estate passed to their father, James, and his sister, Clara...
John M. Jennings, JD
John M. Jennings, JDPresident and Chief Strategist of St. Louis Trust & Family Office

IFOD - Interesting Fact of the Day

John Jennings, President of St. Louis Trust & Family Office, shares thoughtful, interesting and insightful nuggets of information in this daily blog.

November 18, 2024
The High School That Produced Two of the Most Infamous Experiments in History

Sound Smart Series

A Friday fast take on topical subjects from the market and economy.

Read the Sound Smart Series Here

Essential Reading

We love reading. Our company Book Club gathers quarterly to discuss select books, podcasts, and more. Here's a list of what we've enjoyed.

St. Louis Trust & Family Office Bookshelf

From the Archive

Browse a selection of our posts from past years sorted by category, or enter specific search terms.

Author Archives: Michael Small

Investment Management

Investing in Opportunity Zone Funds? Not So Fast…

Just hearing the words “opportunity zone” seems to draw the attention of novice and professional investors alike. The combination of the term "opportunity" coupled with the most frequent words people hear next, “incredible tax benefits,” makes opportunity zones seem like a worthy investment to investigate. Who wouldn’t want to invest in something described in such an attractive manner? Not so fast…
Michael Small
Michael SmallExecutive Vice President and CFO
Family Office

Valuable Advice for New Graduates – Practical and Life Lessons

It is hard to believe it is that time of year again. The next class of high school and college seniors will soon don their caps and gowns and embark on the next chapter of their lives. That said, it is the opportune time to impart our best advice for these two groups of graduates. The following lists include both practical suggestions in the areas of career and finances, as well as general words of wisdom we would offer younger versions of ourselves given what we have learned over the years.
Michael Small
Michael SmallExecutive Vice President and CFO
Family Office

Why Do People Often Fail to Make the Wise Choice?

On April 25th, The St. Louis Trust Company hosted a Symposium that featured behavioral scientist Bob Nease. Bob is a former professor at Washington University in St. Louis and former chief scientist at Express Scripts. His research and writings on human behavior have many practical applications to our everyday lives… and they’re entertaining.
Michael Small
Michael SmallExecutive Vice President and CFO
Family Office

Seemingly Minor, but Very Important Takeaways From 2016 Client Conversations

Every day, our team at The St. Louis Trust Company provides expert advice to our clients on investing, estate planning, trust administration and other financial-related topics. In the course of handling these significant matters, we also help clients address other everyday issues. We have assembled a list...
Michael Small
Michael SmallExecutive Vice President and CFO