Are charitable trusts worth the complexity? Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) and Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs) can offer significant tax and estate planning benefits, but they also come with important trade-offs.

In this episode, we explain how charitable trusts work, when they make sense for high-net-worth families, and how they compare to simpler charitable giving strategies like donor-advised funds.

We cover charitable trust tax benefits, strategies for diversifying appreciated stock, estate tax planning, and the often-overlooked costs of giving up control of your wealth.

If you feel like you should be getting more value than the AUM fee you're currently paying at your brokerage firm, visit https://engagewithbirchwood.com

What if the best way to invest $70 billion is also one of the simplest?

Nevada's $70 billion pension fund, managed by Steve Edmundson and a remarkably small investment team, has outperformed many of its peers using a straightforward strategy built around low-cost index funds, Treasury bonds, and disciplined rebalancing.

In this episode, we explore how Nevada PERS achieves impressive investment returns while avoiding the high fees and complexity of hedge funds, private equity, and alternative investments. We also discuss what wealthy families can learn from this approach, why investment costs and taxes matter, and whether more sophisticated investment strategies actually produce better results.

The takeaway: More money doesn't have to mean more complexity.

If you feel like you should be getting more value than the AUM fee you're currently paying at your brokerage firm, visit https://engagewithbirchwood.com

Retirement isn't just about having enough money. It's about deciding what you'll do with the freedom you've worked decades to achieve.

In this podast, Stephen explores the responsibility of retirement - why financial independence can actually require more intentionality, initiative, and purpose.

From strengthening family relationships and investing in grandchildren to generosity, faith, and creating meaningful experiences, a successful retirement requires more than a financial plan. It requires a plan for how you'll use your time.