Market commentary, Heightened volatility from 2022 continued into the first quarter of 2023 The year started with a strong rally as investors grew bullish anticipating the end of the Fed’s rate hiking campaign and the 10-year US Treasury yield at 388%  Read more

Market commentary After finishing 2023 with a strong rally interest rates reversed course during the first quarter of 2024 as the market reconciled strong economic data with the timing of a Fed pivot The last rate hike was in July 2023 when the FOMC raised rates to the 525–550% range Since then the market’s focus has been on when the Fed would begin cutting rates The market’s speculation going…

Market commentary, The revival of positive convexity and attractive yields across both rate and spread product had the power to generate positive returns in a six month period in which interest rates were extremely volatile and with a yield curve that remains deeply inverted Read more

Market commentary Investors entered the second quarter of 2024 with uncertainty about yields and the ultimate Fed rate path The year started with three consecutive higher-than-expected inflation prints This resulted in yields rising through April and nearing the highs reached in the fourth quarter of 2023 In addition markets reduced expectations for the number of Fed rate cuts to two-to-three…

Market commentary, During the third quarter of 2023 fixed income investors endured a difficult market with the Bloomberg Aggregate  Bond Index losing 323% as interest rates rose meaningfully on the back of continued hawkishness from the Fed The rates sell off dragged the year-to-date performance into negative territory with a return of -121% for the nine  months ended September 30 Read more

While interest rates moved towards the low band of our expected price range during the quarter recent increases in interest rates have overall rates closer to fair value We continue to maintain a near neutral curve posture and overall duration relative to portfolio benchmarks with interest rate volatility expected to remain elevated  Access the full 3Q2024 Strategic Fixed Income commentary below…

Market commentary The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC continued its aggressive policy tightening during the first half of the year increasing the Federal Funds Rate 100 basis points during 2023 The last of the FOMC’s four hikes came at the July meeting with the current Fed Funds target range at 525%–550% The market feels the Fed has reached its terminal rate with inflation on a consistent…

For business owners and the self-employed frustration with annual tax liabilities is a cornerstone of every spring season as constant and repetitive as April showers But perhaps it doesn’t have to be It’s never too soon to plan for your next tax season, At Mesirow we work with business owners like you to help maximize retirement savings minimize taxes and maintain the flexibility required to productively run your business by implementing custom retirement plan strategies Qualified retirement plans have been around for decades but many business owners don’t realize just how effective they can be for delivering large tax deductions that can…, defined contribution,  , plans , and , defined benefit plans, Defined contribution plans, —more commonly known in the marketplace as , profit sharing and 401(k plans, —are ideal for business owners seeking flexibility and annual discretion These plans provide the ability in profitable years to shelter up to an annual 2025 individual limit of $7000000 and if you are over age 50 additional catch-up contributions can also be made¹ The appeal of a defined contribution program is that the fixed annual commitment is often very manageable and yet the potential to…, Defined benefit plans, on the other hand offer the appeal of considerably larger contributions and deductions Depending on the demographics of the shareholders and employees — age compensation etc — it is not at all uncommon to obtain six-figure tax deductions annually in a defined benefit plan However in exchange for the larger tax and savings vehicle as a business owner you must be comfortable with a less flexible…, cash balance plan, —a specific type of defined benefit plan that is communicated and packaged to employees more like a defined contribution plan While the mechanics on the back end are very much a traditional defined benefit plan the contributions are delivered more like profit sharing contributions so that the employees can more easily digest what they are receiving and what they take with them if they terminate…, Published February 2025, 1  https//wwwtaxnotescom/research/federal/irs-guidance/notices/irs-updates-pension-plan-limitations-2025-tax-year/7my9v Source Mesirow 

Significant increase in AUM for Mesirow Equity Management, Growth reflects strong performance differentiated strategies and client-centric approach, AUM advanced over 25% so far in 2023, CHICAGO September 26 2023, – Mesirow an independent employee-owned financial services firm announced that Mesirow Equity Management (“MEM” has surpassed $1 billion in assets under management (“AUM” as of August 31 2023 Led by Kathryn Vorisek Head of Equity Management Portfolio Manager and Leo Harmon Chief Investment Officer Portfolio Manager MEM focuses exclusively on managing small cap and small-mid cap portfolios and…, About Mesirow Equity Management, Mesirow Equity Management (MEM is an institutional asset manager focused exclusively on investing in small cap and small-mid cap value and core equities For more information please visit mesirowcom/equity , 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…