Scott Blajszczak is a Vice President in Mesirow Fiduciary Solutions He provides extensive quantitative and qualitative investment research for the groups fiduciary partnership consulting institutional due diligence and other related engagements Scott has six years of experience in the financial services industry Prior to joining Mesirow in 2019 he was a Financial Analyst at Kemper Corporation In…

Background, The client Mrs Q hit financial success at 50 years old earning approximately $14 million per year Prior to this later success she had no significant savings , Situation, Need for a strategic and organized plan for cash flow and long-term legacy, Without any significant savings Mrs Q’s goal now is to build up her savings and investments to reach “financial independence” as soon as possible Ultimately she would like to shift her career to something she finds more interesting but less remunerative , Solution, Starting from scratch we created a holistic financial plan with a savings and investment strategy designed to address short and long term goals , step 1 The first step in creating a comprehensive plan was to understand not only Mrs Q’s financial needs but also how family considerations would integrate into the planning To do this we worked with the client’s accountant and estate attorney to ensure that her children and second marriage would be protected and funded the way she wanted them to  step 2 The next step was to identify and/or set…, Conclusion, Crafting a legacy plan that integrates family and finances, The plan is in place and Mrs Q is making great progress towards her financial goals  She is sending in money automatically each month to her personal account which we are using to fund tax advantaged accounts and leaving the balance in her personal trust  Then investing each entity- with the least tax efficient investments in the advantaged accounts and the most tax efficient in her personal…

Its time to sell your successful business — whether for a new venture or retirement The earlier you start the better Early planning allows you to assemble a team of advisors (financial advisor CPA business attorney estate attorney etc and create a financial strategy aligned with your goals considering taxes income sources expenses risk tolerance family needs and philanthropy Exit planning is one…, 123, One of the first questions advisors are often asked How can I reduce the tax impact from the sale of my business This is a great question But make sure you aren’t asking that question too late in the process While your focus may be on closing the deal (potential buyers deal terms asset vs stock sale valuations business assets real estate etc remember your net proceeds are also directly impacted…, What strategies may be right for you, Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS, — Investors and business owners receive favorable tax treatment for capital gains provided the company meets specific requirements A qualified small business must be an active domestic C-corp with no more than $50 million in assets on and immediately after the issuance of stock If the stock is held for at least five years investors can potentially exclude up to 100% of the gains from federal…, 1031 Exchanges, — Also known as a “like-kind exchange” Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code allows investors and business owners the ability to defer capital gains tax when the proceeds of a business property sale are reinvested in a similar asset or business typically real estate , Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ, — You can defer and potentially reduce your tax liability by reinvesting the gains from the sale of business property into economically distressed communities or QOZs The timeline for QOZ deferrals ends by 12312026 or earlier if there is an inclusion event The longer you hold the QOZ investment the greater the tax benefits which can include a step-up in basis After 10 years you may elect to…, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP, — Selling to your employees through an ESOP may allow you to defer or avoid capital gains tax while you transition out of ownership but maintain the continuity of the business itself  , Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT, — A CRT is a tax-exempt trust that allows donors the ability to make a tax-deductible gift of appreciated assets (including closely held business assets into the irrevocable trust sell them and reduce or defer the capital gains taxes The donor receives an annuity (income for a set number of years or for life and once the term ends the remainder goes to charity    , Installment Sale, — Structured installment sales allow business owners the ability to spread out the receipt of the proceeds over a one two or several years to spread out the income received and the potential tax liability over time When planned well in advance of a sale there are many strategies (including those referenced above that can help business owners protect the value of their assets and create legacies…

Dan Personette CFA has over 20 years of industry experience and will join the Mesirow Strategic Fixed Income team as a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, Dan will oversee portfolio management portfolio construction and trade implementation across several key mandates, Previously Dan was a Senior Portfolio Manager at Northern Trust Asset Management, CHICAGO June 18 2024, – Mesirow an independent employee-owned financial services firm is pleased to announce the appointment of, Dan Personette, CFA as a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager in, Mesirow Strategic Fixed Income, Dan will oversee portfolio management portfolio construction and trade implementation across multiple mandates with responsibilities spanning rates global macro and mortgage-backed sectors “We are excited to welcome Dan to the team as we serve an increasingly large base of sophisticated investors” said, David Nirtaut, Senior Managing Director Co-Chief Investment Officer of Mesirow Strategic Fixed Income “His experience in active portfolio management trading and multi-asset allocation within fixed income will be invaluable as we continue to grow our client base” “Mesirow Strategic Fixed Income’s custom client portfolios and effective risk management will enable us to offer a product with a differentiated…, About Mesirow Strategic Fixed Income,   With global headquarters in Chicago Mesirow Strategic Fixed Income seeks to capture the majority of available incremental investment returns while maintaining a neutral duration posture to minimize risk Our approach capitalizes on in-depth research and yield curve analysis to determine the most efficient portfolio structure Watch David Nirtauts latest investment grade fixed income market, outlook video, For more information on Mesirow Strategic Fixed Income please visit, https//mesirowcom/strategicfixedincome, About Mesirow , Mesirow is an independent employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937 Headquartered in Chicago with locations around the world we serve clients through a personal custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good With capabilities spanning Global Investment Management Capital Markets & Investment Banking and Advisory Services we invest in what…, mesirowcom, follow us on, LinkedIn, and subscribe to, Spark, our quarterly newsletter Mesirow has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business multiple times and is one of Barron’s Top 100 RIA firms 

While the markets continue to function (albeit at higher pricing and moderately worse terms summer vacations were in full effect as the end of the summer saw a slowdown across the board Rising rates and a summer slowdown made July the lowest direct lending volume month since March with $95 billion of total deal volume Only 28% was for true new issue (LBO or M&A the lowest percentage since…

What are they and how do they fit within my financial plan  , Inflation continues at the highest rate since the early 80’s and as a result different savings vehicles such as Series I Savings Bonds or I Bonds  are emerging in popularity This article explains what I Bonds are the pros and cons of investing in them tax considerations and how they may factor into your financial planning I Bonds are savings bonds from the United States Treasury that encourage…, How to calculate I Bond interest rates, Calculating the interest rates for I Bonds consists of knowing the fixed rate which is set at purchase and the variable rate (which we know changes every six months You can calculate it using the below formula Composite rate = [fixed rate + (2 x semiannual variable rate + (fixed rate x semiannual variable rate], The pros and cons of I Bonds, I Bonds present themselves as a lower-risk savings vehicle However there are both pros and cons to I Bonds so it is important to consider how I Bonds would fit within your current financial plan depending on your unique situation Pros I Bonds are generally a liquid investment and can be held for as little as one year and as long as 30 years They are viewed as a lower risk investment and have been…, I Bonds offer tax reporting flexibility, Depending on your situation you have a few options for reporting the interest incurred during the life of the bond You can report the interest earned every year when you file your taxes OR you can defer reporting the interest until you file a federal income tax return for the year in which the first of these events occurs You cash the bond and receive what the bond is worth including the interest…, How to incorporate I Bonds within your financial planning, Many of our clients are asking if I Bonds is an appropriate savings vehicle Your Mesirow Wealth Advisor can work with you to explore the pros and cons relative to your unique financial plan   1 https//wwwtreasurydirectgov/indiv/research/indepth/ibonds/res_ibondshtm, Published March 2025

Servia Rindfleish is a Managing Director and Client Portfolio Manager for Mesirow Alternative Credit In this role she drives business development efforts focusing on building and strengthening partnerships with existing and prospective clients LPs consultants and other investor classes Before joining Mesirow Alternative Credit she focused on research and analytics and client service while…