News & Awards

According to Barron’s Hall of Famer Spuds Powell, CPWA® the worst mistake investors make is letting emotions influence your investment judgement. Spuds highlights that emotion can have a significant impact on your financial well-being.

Read Spuds’s full insights on Barron’s Advisor: http://bit.ly/3Excx8f (a subscription may be required to view the article).

To speak with Spuds, contact our LA Office.

Financial Planner Thomas Pontius, CFP® shared his latest insights in Financial Advisor Magazine on how to begin tax planning for the eventual sunset of changes brought about by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

“Another tax bill prior to the reversion could potentially extend some provisions or eliminate others altogether. What a new tax bill will propose will be dependent on the political landscape at that time,” Pontius said.

Check out the full piece for more: https://bit.ly/3EsKrLe

Contact our team to learn about our tax planning services.

The information provided here should not be considered legal or tax advice and all investors should consult their legal and/or tax professional about the specifics of their own legal and tax situation to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide legal or tax advice and nothing herein should be construed as legal or tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all legal and income tax situations. Tax laws can and frequently do change, and KAR does not undertake to update this should any changes occur.

Wealth Advisor Bridget Costello, CFP shared insights with Barron’s Advisor on how the stakes for divorce can be higher for executives due to the size and nature of assets that are involved. Bridget highlights that life insurance also plays a huge factor.

Read the Barron’s article here: http://bit.ly/3lDXEuc (a subscription may be required to view the article).

Contact our LA Team to learn about our advisory services.

Banks and credit unions have been raising the interest rates creating opportunities for savers. KAR wealth advisor, Carina Berlin, CFP® weighs in on the pros and cons in deciding between opening a money market and savings account. In addition to the variation in interest rates offered, money market accounts can differ from savings accounts in account features and mininum deposit requirements. Read the Fortune article to learn more: https://bit.ly/414SKXB

Contact our LA Team for more financial planning tips.

CIO Doug Foreman, shares his 2023 global outlook in Pensions & Investments in which he states that the mix of higher rates, high inflation and slowing growth will likely spell a mild recession in 2023.

Read the full piece: https://bit.ly/3XkQ4C8

For more of Doug’s insights, check out our 4Q2022 Market Review Commentary.

In a recent Financial Advisor Magazine article, Thomas Pontius, CFP® shares his outlook on how clients should proactively plan for taxes and recognize that major changes will likely begin in 2026.

Read the piece: https://bit.ly/3CAQU60

Contact us to learn more about our tax planning services.

The information provided here should not be considered legal or tax advice and all investors should consult their legal and/or tax professional about the specifics of their own legal and tax situation to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide legal or tax advice and nothing herein should be construed as legal or tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all legal and income tax situations. Tax laws can and frequently do change, and KAR does not undertake to update this should any changes occur.

Despite the ups and downs of 2022, Randy believes there are still opportunities for advisors to leverage the market conditions of 2023 in service of preserving clients’ portfolios. Among the areas of opportunity are tax loss harvesting, Roth conversion strategies, and long-term flexible planning.

Read the full outlook here: https://bit.ly/3i39qgo

To speak with Randy, contact our Newport office.

According to Doug, strong employment continues to be the Fed’s Achilles Heel. Doug highlights that any reduction of labor demand growth will be seen as a positive indicator by the Fed to slowing the economy.

Read the article here: https://bit.ly/3YlXer7 (Note: a subscription to Barron’s is required for access)

Managing Director and Barron’s Hall of Famer, Spuds Powell, was recently profiled by Steve Garmhausen in Barron’s Advisor discussing the organic growth of the Kayne wealth advisor team, his journey and evolution as a financial advisor and the value of building strong client relationships. Read the full piece here: https://webreprints.djreprints.com/2360511WR.pdf

Contact Spuds today to learn more.

Dustin Gale, CFP®, CPWA® shares his outlook on how clients should keep emergency cash during these high-inflation times and discusses that in time, the payout rates may get better. Check out the Financial Advisor Magazine article for more: https://bit.ly/3Ali27V

Learn more about our wealth management services or contact our office.

Doug Foreman recently shared his insights in Lawrence Light’s Chief Investment Officer Magazine article on what the market will look like in the coming decade. He notes that many overlook that the drawdowns create bargains that can set up ‘above-average returns’. Read the full article: http://bit.ly/3Ea7ycx (login credentials are free to create and required to view the article)

Contact us to speak with our Investment Team.

Tyler Sterk, CPA recently shared insights on how the expansion of marginal tax brackets gives retirees the ability to convert more assets from their tax-deferred IRAs to their tax-free Roth IRAs. Read the full Financial Advisor Magazine article here: bit.ly/3AeNNj7

Learn more about our tax planning services or contact us to discuss your options.

The information provided here should not be considered legal or tax advice and all investors should consult their legal and/or tax professional about the specifics of their own legal and tax situation to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide legal or tax advice and nothing herein should be construed as legal or tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all legal and income tax situations. Tax laws can and frequently do change, and KAR does not undertake to update this should any changes occur. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

For more information on the Forbes Top 100 RIA ranking, visit: https://www.forbes.com/lists/top-ria-firms/?sh=46b1696c3cd5

“We are especially proud of this recognition which took into account an understanding of the overall client experience, among other criteria,” said KAR Executive Managing Director Stephen A. Rigali. “The entire KAR wealth management team has the best interest of their clients at the forefront of their work, and it is an honor that we have ranked this highly out of over 36,000 nominations.”

According to R.J. Shook, President of Shook Research, the Forbes Top RIA ranking is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data such as revenue, assets under management, and client-related data including retention rates.

Kayne Anderson Rudnick’s wealth management team also appeared on Barron’s 2022 list of the Top Independent Advisors, Top 1,200 Advisors by State and Forbes’ 2022 list of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors.

Forbes’ Top RIA Firms 2022 and Forbes’ 2022 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Forbes includes wirehouses along with RIAs in their ranking. The Forbes rankings, developed by SHOOK Research, are based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, gained through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years’ experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their approach to working with clients. Each variable is graded and represents a certain value for each measured component. The algorithm measures thousands of advisors against each other. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. KAR has not paid a fee to participate in the rankings but has paid fees for a license to reprint and distribute the results of the rankings. For additional information on the Forbes’ Top RIA Firms 2022, please visit here.  For additional information on the Forbes’ 2022 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors Ranking, please visit here.

For the Barron’s “Top 100 Independent Advisors” Barron’s utilizes the results from a 102-question survey that is completed by advisors who wish to be ranked. Barron’s verifies that data with the advisors’ firms and with regulatory databases and then applies its rankings formula to the data to generate a ranking. The formula features three major categories of calculations: (1) Assets (2) Revenue (3) Quality of practice. Barron’s also measures the growth of advisors’ practices and their client retention along with a wide range of qualitative factors, including the advisors’ experience, their advanced degrees and industry designations, the size, shape, and diversity of their teams, their charitable and philanthropic work, and their compliance records. KAR has not paid a fee to participate in the rankings but has paid fees for a license to reprint and distribute the results of the rankings.

For more information on the ranking, visit: https://www.barrons.com/advisor/report/top-financial-advisors/independent?mod=faranking_subnav.

Brian Chang shared why bear markets are a time to “develop a deeper understanding of clients’ biases and fears, which will strengthen the future advisory experience.” Financial planning is both an art and a science, especially during times of turmoil. Read more in Financial Advisor Magazine: https://bit.ly/3FKPCri

Contact Brian to discuss your financial plan.

Executive Manager Director, Stephen Rigali, shared his insights on KAR’s high-quality investment strategy, the unique approach to our leadership team & how our investment management division works alongside the wealth management division in the recent Private Wealth Financial Advisor magazine piece: https://bit.ly/3FAIrSz

Sam Waltman recently shared advice on how to build an emergency savings fund during periods of high inflation. He suggests that one should create a line item for savings in their budget as a way to consistently contribute. Read more in CNBC article: https://cnb.cx/3yCdQQj

Wealth Advisor Tyler Sterk, CFP^®, CPA shares his insights on estate planning and how the lifetime exemption will revert to its old level or lower by 2026.

Read the article in Financial Advisor Magazine: https://bit.ly/3fFVEPj

The information provided here should not be considered legal or tax advice and all investors should consult their legal and/or tax professional about the specifics of their own legal and tax situation to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide legal or tax advice and nothing herein should be construed as legal or tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all legal and income tax situations. Tax laws can and frequently do change, and KAR does not undertake to update this should any changes occur. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The honorees profiled in this special edition of the publication were nominated by their colleagues and peers and selected by the publication’s stakeholders. Honorees represent commercial banking, investment banking, asset/investment management, lending, and private equity sectors as well as service executives across the legal, accounting and insurance sectors.

“We are proud to congratulate Randy and Brian for being recognized as Orange County Visionaries,” said Stephen Rigali, KAR Executive Managing Director. “This recognition is well deserved and highlights the remarkable leadership demonstrated by the KAR wealth advisory team throughout the challenges presented over the last year.”

Profiles of the winners included their “backgrounds, skill sets and remarkable accomplishments and how they’ve propelled their organizations, their clients and our community at large towards success,” highlighting the personal and professional drivers in their lives.

To read the full honoree feature, including individual profiles of Randy Allen and Brian Chang, please click here.

OC Times B2B Publishing 2022 Visionaries are nominated by colleagues and peers and selected by B2B stakeholders. Selections are made without regard to whether an individual or company advertises with the OC Times. KAR has not paid fees to the award sponsor to obtain the award and does not anticipate that it will pay fees to re-license the award. KAR sponsored an ad in the 2022 B2B Banking & Finance publication but doing so was not a prerequisite to winning the award.

This marks the fifth time Powell has ranked first overall among Barron’s top independent advisors and the tenth consecutive year within the top 10, including a four year stretch as number one from 2017-2020. Powell is the only independent advisor to hold the number one ranking for five or more years. His ten-year milestone achievement automatically triggered the Hall of Fame induction.

“Spuds Powell and the KAR Wealth Advisory team’s capability to maintain their presence on this prominent list for the past decade is a testament to their consistency in developing and sustaining client relationships,” said KAR Executive Managing Director Stephen A. Rigali. “Our ranking at number one is reflective of the team’s commitment to client communication and their work during a tumultuous year.”

The Barron’s Top Independent Advisor ranking reflects the volume of assets overseen by the advisors and their teams, revenues generated for the firms, and the quality of the advisors’ practices. The scoring system assigns a top score of 100 and rates the rest by comparing them with the top-ranked advisor. KAR has not paid to participate in the ranking or for the ranking itself.

Kayne Anderson Rudnick’s wealth management team also appeared on Barron’s 2022 list of the Top 1,200 Advisors by State and Forbes’ 2022 list of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors.

Click here to view the special report.

For more information on the ranking, visit: https://www.barrons.com/advisor/report/top-financial-advisors/independent?mod=faranking_subnav.

For more information on the Barron’s Hall of Fame, visit: https://www.barrons-advisor.com/hall-of-fame.html.

For the Barron’s “Top 100 Independent Advisors” Barron’s utilizes the results from a 102-question survey that is completed by advisors who wish to be ranked. Barron’s verifies that data with the advisors’ firms and with regulatory databases and then applies its rankings formula to the data to generate a ranking. The formula features three major categories of calculations: (1) Assets (2) Revenue (3) Quality of practice. Barron’s also measures the growth of advisors’ practices and their client retention along with a wide range of qualitative factors, including the advisors’ experience, their advanced degrees and industry designations, the size, shape, and diversity of their teams, their charitable and philanthropic work, and their compliance records. KAR has not paid a fee to participate in the rankings but has paid fees for a license to reprint and distribute the results of the rankings.

The Barron’s Hall of Fame Advisor Award is an award honoring a group of advisors who exemplify long-term success and commitment to their clients.  Each member of the Hall of Fame has appeared in Barron’s annual Top 100 Advisor rankings for 10+ years, and their long-looking commitment to excellence is a hopeful example for the industry to follow. KAR has not paid a fee to participate in the award or to reprint and distribute the result of the award. 

Forbes’ 2022 Top Wealth Advisors and Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Forbes includes wirehouses along with RIAs in their ranking. The Forbes rankings, developed by SHOOK Research, are based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, gained through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years’ experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their approach to working with clients. Each variable is graded and represents a certain value for each measured component. The algorithm that measures thousands of advisors against each other. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. KAR has not paid a fee to participate in the rankings but has paid fees for a license to reprint and distribute the results of the rankings.

For additional information on the Forbes’ 2022 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors Ranking, please visit here.

Portfolio Manager and Senior Research Analyst Julie Biel, CFA recently shared that despite the tumultuous market we’re facing, we are one step closer to recovery. In terms of possible correction with today’s high inflation, we still have a long way to go.

For more, read the full Bloomberg News article: https://bloom.bg/3UJFyEf

In this piece, Portfolio Manager & Senior Research Analyst, Hyung Kim discusses his background growing up in South Korea, areas of opportunity in emerging markets, and KAR’s approach in identifying quality investments.

Read the full feature: https://www.virtus.com/articles/how-an-emerging-market-stock-fund-stays-on-top-with-less-risk

Wealth advisor, Tyler Sterk, shares his insights on how carried interest tax is generally at the more favorable long-term capital gains rate at 20%, rather than the ordinary income tax rate at 37%.

Read full article: https://bit.ly/3ADYEDK

The information provided here should not be considered legal or tax advice and all investors should consult their legal and/or tax professional about the specifics of their own legal and tax situation to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide legal or tax advice and nothing herein should be construed as legal or tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all legal and income tax situations. Tax laws can and frequently do change, and KAR does not undertake to update this should any changes occur. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

At KAR, our investment thesis centers around identifying and investing in high-quality companies. We seek to own differentiated businesses with enduring competitive protections, favorable long-term prospects, and exceptional economic characteristics. Given the current rising interest rate environment and volatility in the equity market, we believe there are opportunities created for advisors and their clients to invest in high quality names.

Read Sam’s mid-year outlook: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?i=758140&article_id=4327006&view=articleBrowser&ver=html5

Contact Sam to learn about our wealth advisory services.

The information provided here should not be considered legal or tax advice and all investors should consult their legal and/or tax professional about the specifics of their own legal and tax situation to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide legal or tax advice and nothing herein should be construed as legal or tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all legal and income tax situations. Tax laws can and frequently do change, and KAR does not undertake to update this should any changes occur. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Senior Wealth Advisor Dustin Gale was quoted in a Financial Advisor Magazine piece regarding options to access emergency cash given rising interest rates. Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3R4A7NF

Do you have questions about accessing cash for an emergency? Contact Dustin.

“Part of the problem is that investors are fighting their own psychology. They’ve been conditioned to believe that if they try harder, they will get better results.” – Brian Chang

More than ever, in today’s environment, advisors must understand how their clients react to market events and how that influences their decision-making.  In his byline, Brian discusses encouraging clients to act in concert with risk tolerance, the strategy of holding sufficient cash to feel comfortable during a market correction, and considering alternatives as a substitute for low-return traditional assets.

Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3Pisx0f

Contact Brian to learn about your investing options in a volatile equity market.

The information provided here should not be considered legal or tax advice and all investors should consult their legal and/or tax professional about the specifics of their own legal and tax situation to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide legal or tax advice and nothing herein should be construed as legal or tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all legal and income tax situations. Tax laws can and frequently do change, and KAR does not undertake to update this should any changes occur. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The listing is ranked by local assets under management for individual client accounts. The list includes wealth management firms with offices located in the Bay Area, specifically Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties. Information required to compile this ranking was obtained from firm representatives and independent San Francisco Business Times research. KAR has not paid fees to the award sponsor to obtain the ranking. 

View the complete ranking here.

Contact us to schedule time to speak with our SF based advisors about your investment portfolio.

Boston based Kevin O’Regan weighs in on Bailey McCann’s recent piece on whether now is a good time to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.  He also shares how to plan for the tax penalties/benefits that come with it.

Read the article: https://on.wsj.com/3vS1AK0

Contact Kevin with your questions about Roth IRA conversions.

The information provided here should not be considered legal or tax advice and all investors should consult their legal and/or tax professional about the specifics of their own legal and tax situation to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide legal or tax advice and nothing herein should be construed as legal or tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all legal and income tax situations. Tax laws can and frequently do change, and KAR does not undertake to update this should any changes occur.

The ranking methodology includes 2021 year-end discretionary and non-discretionary assets under management, percentage of growth in assets from 2020-2021, assets per client, percentage of growth in assets per client and percentage change in number of clients.

For the full ranking consisting of 534 RIAs, visit: here.

“We are honored to be recognized by Financial Advisor Magazine with a top 10 ranking of over 500 notable RIA firms,” said Stephen A. Rigali, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Executive Managing Director and Member of the Executive Management Committee. “This ranking is reflective of our specialized, high quality investment strategies and the approach of our investment and wealth managers during a unique time in the market cycle.”

To be eligible for the ranking, firms must be independent registered investment advisors, file their own ADV statement with the SEC and provide financial planning and related services to individual clients. This survey does not apply to hybrid RIAs and corporate RIAs. KAR did not pay any fees to participate in the Financial Advisor Magazine ranking.

The June 2022 edition of Acclaim Magazine recognized leaders across the global wealth management industry through the WealthBriefing Awards Programme. Recognized for the category “Best CSR Staff Programme- Americas”, Jeannine comments “We are known for our investment acumen. We see this award as a way to showcase our commitment to forging meaningful connections with the people around us, attracting community-oriented advisors and creating an outlet for CSR-minded clients.

She shares community initiatives that the firm focuses on and how clients and employees participate in KAR’s CSR program.

Read the full article to learn more about our CSR program.

The Wealth For Good Awards are independently judged based solely on the basis of entrant’s submissions and their response to a number of specific questions, which are answered by focusing on the client experience rather than purely quantitative performance metrics. The awards recognize the very best operators in global wealth management with “independence”, “integrity”, and “genuine insight”, the watchwords of the judging process. While the judging process is completely independent of any commercial arrangements between the participants and the organizers, it is expected that winners have an obligation to work with the organizers to promote their award and this obligation is separate to attendance at an awards ceremony. KAR did not pay any fees to participate in the Wealth For Good Awards; however, KAR did pay fees for an advertisement and article placement after it was notified that it won. For additional information regarding the Wealth For Good Awards and methodology, please visit https://clearviewpublishing.com/events/the-wealth-for-good-awards-2022/

In this special report, Spuds joins other experts to weigh in on how this bear market is different than past ones and the investing opportunities it could create.

“Despite the doom and gloom, there’s a lot to be optimistic about in the current market that could steer the economy away from a recession, or at least make it a minor one.”

Click to read the full article: https://labusinessjournal.com/finance/banking/bear-market-no-stress/

The information provided here should not be considered legal or tax advice and all investors should consult their legal and/or tax professional about the specifics of their own legal and tax situation to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide legal or tax advice and nothing herein should be construed as legal or tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all legal and income tax situations. Tax laws can and frequently do change, and KAR does not undertake to update this should any changes occur. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Spuds follows a three-step process for getting his clients up to speed on taking charge of their financial affairs and provides a surviving spouse checklist to help manage financial obligations.

Learn about the steps he takes in Jeff Benjamin’s recent InvestmentNews profile: https://bit.ly/3OvGwjL

The information provided here should not be considered legal or tax advice and all investors should consult their legal and/or tax professional about the specifics of their own legal and tax situation to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide legal or tax advice and nothing herein should be construed as legal or tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all legal and income tax situations. Tax laws can and frequently do change, and KAR does not undertake to update this should any changes occur. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

For more information on 40 Under 40, visit: https://40under40inadvice.com/about-2/.

“Brian’s background and ability to speak Mandarin allows him to uniquely gain trust and comfort from his clients, many of which are of Chinese descent,” said Stephen A. Rigali, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Executive Managing Director and Member of the Executive Management Committee. “KAR ensures that every client, no matter their ethnicity or cultural relationship with money, is understood. Brian is a model example of that, and the KAR Executive Committee would like to congratulate him on this recognition.”

In addition to his work with clients, considered for this recognition was Brian’s philanthropic work volunteering with the Los Angeles-area Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, giving frequent presentations on financial topics to teenagers and pre-retirees.

Read more about Brian Chang and his 40 Under 40 recognition, here.

About Kayne Anderson Rudnick
Kayne Anderson Rudnick is an investment and wealth advisory firm founded in 1984 by John Anderson (a Forbes 400 billionaire and the benefactor of UCLA’s Anderson School of Management). Based in Los Angeles, the firm has $65 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2021. The company manages assets for corporations, endowments, foundations, public entities, and high net worth individuals. With over 30 years of experience, the firm is known for its commitment to high quality in its business practices, investment strategies and wealth solutions.

KAR makes no warranty as to the accuracy or reliability of the information contained herein. KAR has not paid fees to the award sponsor to obtain the award.  The firm has paid a fee to license use of the InvestmentNews 40 Under 40 logo.

As a long-time wealth advisor in the Bay Area, I’ve seen my share of young entrepreneurs catapulted into higher income brackets and new lifestyles after their tech start-up generated a windfall of cash. But while they welcome financial success, they are often unprepared for the diversification, risk mitigation and tax liability reduction decisions their newfound wealth requires.

Such windfalls, of course, are not reserved for Silicon Valley luminaries. They are also common among early-stage employees who’ve accumulated shares at multiple companies and children who’ve become sudden heirs after the untimely death of a parent. Whether from major cash-outs, accumulated company shares, unexpected inheritances or divorce settlements, significant wealth creation can pose unexpected challenges for these clients.

The Face of Newfound Wealth

Clients with newfound wealth can include founders, co-founders or early-stage employees of start-ups that generated windfalls from an IPO during or after their employment. Some acquired new wealth may also result from a merger, acquisition, or other liquidity event.

They might emerge from a six-year stint to capture a $20 million windfall after taking a tech venture public. They may be surprised by a $15 million pay-out as a result of an IPO at a previous employer where they thought their shares had been diluted.

The intense success over a compressed timeframe with little exposure to loss can leave young entrepreneurs with a distorted sense of risk. Most of their wealth, and therefore risk, is typically tied up in their company. Founders who became wealthy by employing risky strategies may be wired to assume outsized risk with their assets or prone to miscalculating risk with highly concentrated positions.

That distortion might be more acute with clients who invested entirely within the recent bull run—and all within the confines of the Silicon Valley ecosystem and its disproportionate number of successful start-ups. They may become overly optimistic and unprepared for an eventual downturn if their company vastly outperformed the broader market for several years. It’s critical for them to understand the role diversification and risk management plays.

Other clients may have seen their wealth balloon in their late 20s before experiencing additional windfalls in their 30s from multiple firms, requiring ongoing risk and balance sheet management. Instead of instant wealth from a major IPO, they have accumulated shares in the form of restricted stock units (RSU) or other compensation.

As early-stage employees, they receive the most valuable equity at the firms. But that equity dilutes over time. Once the RSUs are vested, they have less incentive to stay and often leave to restart the cycle at another firm.

It could also be a client who receives a family inheritance after the unexpected death of a parent, perhaps with assets from appreciated property values, a scenario which has become more common during the pandemic.

Understanding Risk & Protecting Assets

Financial advisors serve as a client’s guide through defining and achieving their financial goals, oftentimes shepherding them through uncharted territory. While some seek advice in anticipation of a windfall, others wait until their money is in hand. By the time they reach our office, they are often overwhelmed by the management their wealth demands. That is why, in our experience, it is important to engage with an advisor they trust, and as early in the process as possible.

Some clients may struggle to understand the consequences of holding a concentrated position with company stock. They seek our expertise about whether they should hold their shares or sell them immediately and, if they sell, how to reinvest the proceeds. Others want to know the tax implications and whether they qualify for a federal exemption. For some, company stock that comprises the bulk of their compensation plan may have lost value.

Through consistent communication, we strive to help clients understand how to grow and protect their assets. Specifically, we ensure accounts are organized, estates are properly settled, and investments are seamlessly transferred. We also connect them to a wider network of accountants, estate attorneys, and other third-party professionals.

Additionally, we research companies and conduct risk assessments to gauge tax liability. By generating detailed analyses, we believe we can illustrate how market events can impair businesses. We help them understand the scope of their wealth and work to deter them from making mistakes common among the newly wealthy.

As collaborators, we offer access to what we believe are timely investing ideas and walk clients through capital markets complexities that technologically based alternatives, such as robo-advisors, may not offer. As we see it, we are trusted advocates who strive to actively identify investment opportunities – many of which clients are unaware of – and provide counsel on the latest investment trends dominating headlines.

For example, we can diversify a portfolio for someone who is sitting on a highly concentrated position with company stock simply to avoid a hefty capital gains tax. We may suggest cutting existing shares to reduce that liability for a client who has vested shares periodically coming due.

Clients are typically focused on growing and taking risks. But for those prioritizing risk management over performance, we might reserve one portion of their assets for living expenses and another for risk taking.

For sudden heirs, we can serve as a guide through a time of stress and confusion. In instances where we have already advised an heir’s parents, we believe we are better positioned to incorporate their specific allocation needs and risk tolerances, whether conservative or uber aggressive. If needed, we can expand our role by identifying tax efficiencies or ways to unwind exposure for heirs at publicly-traded tech companies.

These scenarios present a prime opportunity for advisors to help clients navigate new terrain. For us, they create an opening to demonstrate our value with younger investors who may not be sophisticated investors but are less likely to hire an advisor. We can pick up where self-directed brokerage accounts leave off. Ultimately, we believe we can cultivate lasting relationships, helping clients achieve the financial freedom and security they crave.

Contact our San Francisco office today.

Reprinted with permission from the June 9, 2022 online edition of Think Advisor © 2022 ALM Global Properties, LLC. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited, contact 877-256-2472 or .

KAR is proud to announce that four of our senior wealth advisors have been named as Five Star Wealth Managers for 2022.

Los Angeles:

• Curt Biren, Senior Wealth Advisor: 10^th Year
• Dustin Gale, Senior Wealth Advisor: 3^rd Year
• Spuds Powell, Managing Director & Senior Wealth Advisor: 11^th Year

Orange County:

• Randy Allen, Senior Wealth Advisor: 3^rd Year

According to Five Star Professional, the program’s objective is to recognize wealth management professionals who “show a commitment to clients, demonstrate strong industry credentials, and are evaluated on the quality of their current practice.”

Commenting on the recognition, Stephen Rigali, KAR Executive Managing Director said: “The KAR team is pleased to have Curt, Dustin, Spuds and Randy named as a Five Star Wealth Manager once again.  Being recognized across consecutive years is a testimony to their ongoing commitment to delivering a high level of service to their clients.”

For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to https://www.fivestarprofessional.com/public/wmresearch. 3,781 Los Angeles-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 150 (4% of candidates) were named 2022 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2,482 Orange County-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 143 (6% of candidates) were named 2022 Five Star Wealth Managers.

Five Star Professional conducts market-specific research to identify outstanding service professionals. Founded in 2003, the Five Star award program is the largest and most widely published award program in North America, covering more than 45 major markets. Professionals recognized as award winners are published by Five Star Professional and its partners. Award winners cannot pay a fee to be included in the research or the final list of award recipients. For more information regarding Five Star Professional’s program and research methodology, please visit their website here: https://www.fivestarprofessional.com/public/wmresearch

Learn more about Why our clients choose KAR and Contact Us today.

Los Angeles – KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK DEMONSTRATES COMMITMENT TO ETHICAL STANDARDS WITH WEALTH FOR GOOD AWARD

Kayne Anderson Rudnick was awarded the ‘Best CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Staff Programme – Americas’ at the Inaugural WealthBriefing Wealth for Good Awards, 2022.  The firm joins the growing ranks of the global wealth management industry which recognizes the importance of promoting the highest standards of ethical and sustainable behaviors.

Showcasing the most ethical wealth management businesses globally, the awards have been designed to recognize outstanding organizations grouped by specialism and geography which the prestigious panel of independent judges deemed to have ‘demonstrated commitment to the highest standards in relations to clients, colleagues and the wider community during the year’.

The WealthBriefing Wealth for Good Awards are part of a global program run by WealthBriefing and its sister publications WealthBriefingAsia and Family Wealth Report, encompassing all the world’s major wealth management centers.

Participants around the world recognize that winning awards is particularly important in these challenging times as it gives clients reassurance that their advisors and business partners are upholding the highest standards in the industry as well as in the solidity and sustainability of the winner’s business and operating model.

Commenting on the firm’s triumph, Jeannine Vanian, KAR Chief Operating Officer said: “We dedicate ourselves to developing a team that exemplifies diversity and embraces the needs of the people who surround us, and it is our honor to receive this award.”

Find out more here.

The Wealth For Good Awards are independently judged based solely on the basis of entrant’s submissions and their response to a number of specific questions, which are answered by focusing on the client experience rather than purely quantitative performance metrics. The awards recognize the very best operators in global wealth management with “independence”, “integrity”, and “genuine insight”, the watchwords of the judging process. While the judging process is completely independent of any commercial arrangements between the participants and the organizers, it is expected that winners have an obligation to work with the organizers to promote their award and this obligation is separate to attendance at an awards ceremony. KAR did not pay any fees to participate in the Wealth For Good Awards; however, KAR did pay fees for an advertisement and article placement after it was notified that it won. For additional information regarding the Wealth For Good Awards and methodology, please visit https://clearviewpublishing.com/events/the-wealth-for-good-awards-2022/

The rising inflation environment is leading consumers to reevaluate where their dollar is spent. Specifically, subscription based streaming services that thrived during the pandemic lockdown are beginning to see their subscription numbers drop.

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Get in touch with Our Team today to learn how KAR managers respond to new market forces.

Senior Wealth Advisor Brian Chang, CFA, CFP® recently shared his insights with Ben Mattlin of ThinkAdvisor regarding how investors responded to past economic crises and how that strategy relates to today’s combat against market volatility & inflation. Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3kKbE1L

See what sets our Wealth Managers apart at KAR, and get in touch with Our Team today.

Related Article: Learn why investors should avoid the “noise” of everyday media.

Recent market volatility may provide investors with an opportunity to offset capital gains by selling securities at a loss.  Senior Wealth Advisor Spuds Powell shares his thoughts on how to make employing a tax loss harvesting strategy effective by having an interim strategy to maintain exposure to the markets.

Read the Barron’s Advisor article: https://bit.ly/3lGJXaw

Learn more about our Wealth Advisory Services and contact Spuds today.

The information provided here should not be considered to be tax advice and all investors should consult their tax professional about the specifics of their own tax situation to determine any proper course of action for them. KAR does not provide tax advice and nothing herein should be construed as tax advice, and information presented here may not be true or applicable for all income tax situations. Tax laws can and frequently do change, and KAR does not undertake to update this should any changes occur.

Commenting on the honorees, Stephen Rigali, KAR Executive Managing Director said: “The KAR team is proud to congratulate Spuds and Darnel on this well-deserved recognition. Their commitment to our clients and the values of the firm exemplifies the goals of KAR as an organization and our culture.”

According to the Los Angeles Business Journal, the honoree profiles were drawn from submitted nomination materials, and “those selected for inclusion were reviewed by the editorial department and chosen based on a demonstration of impact made on the profession and on the Los Angeles community.” The nominee profiles feature information about their careers, practice, and a look at what makes them leaders in their field.

A highlight from the write-up on Spuds included: “Powell also is recognized as a wealth manager who advocates for ‘playing great defense’ during challenging economic environments. Clear communications with clients to define risk and their comfort giving a little upside in periods of volatility and high market risk is a strategy that Powell’s clients say they greatly value.”

Darnel’s profile highlighted: “Bentz focuses on the integration of alternative investment strategies and the customization of client financial plans. His ability to connect and build strong bonds with his clients allowed him to achieve a record year at KAR, adding $100 million in client assets as of the end of 2021. Bentz’s professional priority is for clients to experience the highest-quality service, gain valuable peace of mind, and have confidence that their life goals are obtainable and will be achieved.”

To read the full honoree feature, including individual profiles of Spuds and Darnel, click here.
To access the full list honoree PDF, click here.

Learn more about Why Our Clients Choose KAR and contact our Wealth Management team today.

KAR has not paid fees to the award sponsor to obtain the award and does not anticipate that it will pay fees to re-license the award. KAR sponsored an ad in the 2022 Los Angeles Business Journal Leaders of Influence: Wealth Management publication but doing so was not a prerequisite to winning the award.

“In our view, it is preferable to trade into the market a little at a time, looking for what we think are the highest quality opportunities each day rather than going all in on any given day”.

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To learn more about our Fixed Income services, click here.

Please see the full list and coverage in Forbes here.

According to the authors of the list, Forbes and SHOOK Research, each advisor “is chosen based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative criteria, including: in-person interviews; industry experience; compliance records; revenue produced; and assets under management.”

Within the methodology write up, Forbes comments, “Here’s what our research has found: the very best advisors are laser focused on having a positive impact on their clients’ lives, they want to add meaning and help them live better lives.”

The full list features more than 6,500 advisors managing a collective $10 trillion.

Commenting on the recognition, Stephen Rigali, KAR Executive Managing Director said: “The KAR team is proud to congratulate Spuds and Tom on this achievement. Being recognized among this esteemed list showcases the professionalism and acumen of Spuds and Tom and highlights the commitment of the firm to all of our clients.”

To view Spud’s featured profile within the list, click here: Spuds Powell (forbes.com)
To view Tom’s featured profile within the list, click here: Thomas Connaghan (forbes.com)

Learn more about our Wealth Advisory Services and contact Spuds and Tom today.

Forbes’ 2022 Top Wealth Advisors and Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Forbes includes wirehouses along with RIAs in their ranking. The Forbes rankings, developed by SHOOK Research, are based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, gained through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years’ experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their approach to working with clients. Each variable is graded and represents a certain value for each measured component. The algorithm that measures thousands of advisors against each other. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. KAR has not paid a fee to participate in the rankings but has paid fees for a license to reprint and distribute the results of the rankings.
For additional information on the Forbes’ 2022 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors Ranking, please visit here.

Commenting on the honorees, Stephen Rigali, KAR Executive Managing Director said: “The whole KAR team joins me in congratulation Spuds, Darnel, and Dustin. They personify the firm’s values of honesty, integrity, and transparency as well as our belief that the right thing is helping clients make the most of their wealth.”

The honorees profiled in this special edition of the publication were nominated by their colleagues and peers and selected by the publication’s stakeholders. Honorees represent commercial banking, investment banking, asset/investment management, lending, and private equity sectors as well as service executives across the legal, accounting and insurance sectors.

Profiles of the winners included their “backgrounds, skill sets and remarkable accomplishments and how they’ve propelled their organizations, their clients and our community at large towards success,” highlighting the personal and professional drivers in their lives.

To read the full honoree feature, including individual profiles of Spuds, Darnel and Dustin, click here.

Learn more about our Wealth Advisory Services and contact Spuds, Darnel, and Dustin today.

KAR has not paid fees to the award sponsor to obtain the award and does not anticipate that it will pay fees to re-license the award. KAR sponsored an ad in the 2022 B2B Banking & Finance publication but doing so was not a prerequisite to winning the award.

The annual Family Wealth Report Awards program recognizes who they believe to be the most innovative and exceptional firms, teams and individuals serving the family office, family wealth and trusted advisor communities in North America.

Commenting on being selected as a finalist, Stephen Rigali, KAR Executive Managing Director said: “We are delighted to have been selected by the judges as a finalist for this prestigious award.  It is a great honor to be recognized in the shortlist of finalists and this is testament to the hard work that the team puts in every day to ensure our clients are getting best-in-class products and services.”

Stephen Harris, ClearView Financial Media’s CEO, and publisher of Family Wealth Report, was first to extend his congratulations to all finalists, “This year we had a record number of registrations and submissions for this program: more than 500 submissions in nearly 70 categories. The firms and individuals in the 9th Family Wealth Report program are worthy competitors and the ones that have reached the Finalist stage are truly outstanding. These awards are judged by an expert panel of more than 40 judges and finalists are selected on the basis of entrants’ submissions and their response to a number of specific questions, focusing on both qualitative and quantitative performance metrics. These awards recognize the very best operators in the private client industry. The judging process is rigorous and independent and all conflicts of interest are avoided, ensuring that these awards truly reflect excellence in family wealth management.”

Winners will be announced on 4 May 2022 at the Gala Ceremony at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Manhattan, New York.

To discuss our investment approach with the KAR investment management team, contact us today.

KAR has not paid fees to the award sponsor to participate in the nomination.

A fully stocked kitchen, adoption support programs, and a day to celebrate diversity are among the perks KAR offers. Our COO, Jeannine Vanian, spoke with Steve Garmhausen of Barron’s Advisor to discuss what makes working at KAR so special.

Read what Jeannine had to share: https://bit.ly/3KUh5q4

Interested in joining our team? Apply today.

KAR received the PSN Top Guns Manager of the Decade recognition for several of its investment strategies. The KAR Small Cap Core, KAR Small-Mid Cap Core, KAR Small Cap Quality Value, KAR Small Cap Sustainable Growth, KAR Mid Cap Core, all received the Manager of the Decade designation for the 10-year period ending December 31, 2021.

Through a combination of Informa Financial Intelligence’s proprietary performance screens, *PSN Top Guns (*free registration to view Top Guns) ranks products in six proprietary categories in over 50 universes. This is a well-respected quarterly ranking and is widely used by institutional asset managers and investors. Informa Financial Intelligence is part of Informa plc, a leading provider of critical decision-making solutions and custom services to financial institutions.

Learn more about Our Philosophy and Contact Us today.

Ranking Criteria

PSN Top Guns Manager of the Decade: In order for an investment manager to be considered a PSN Top Gun Manager of the Decade, investment strategies must have had an r-squared of 0.80 or greater relative to the style benchmark for the latest 10-year period. Moreover, an investment strategy’s had to have returns greater than the style benchmark for the latest 10-year period and also standard deviation less than the style benchmark for the latest ten-year period.

The complete list of PSN Top Guns and an overview of the methodology can be located on https://psn.fi.informais.com/

For more details on the methodology behind the PSN Top Guns Rankings or to purchase PSN Top Guns Reports, contact Margaret Tobiasen at

About Informa Financial Intelligence’s Zephyr Financial Intelligence

Zephyr Financial Intelligence is part of the Informa Intelligence Division of Informa plc, is a leading provider of products and services helping financial institutions around the world cut through the noise and take decisive action. Informa Financial Intelligence’s solutions provide unparalleled insight into market opportunity, competitive performance and customer segment behavioral patterns and performance through specialized industry research, intelligence, and insight. IFI’s Zephyr portfolio supports asset allocation, investment analysis, portfolio construction, and client communications that combine to help advisors and portfolio managers retain and grow client relationships. For more information about IFI, visit https://financialintelligence.informa.com. For more information about Zephyr’s PSN Separately Managed Accounts data, visit https://financialintelligence.informa.com/products-and-services/data-analysis-and-tools/psn-sma

The Best Firm Culture: Large Firms category recognizes the achievements of a large ($10bn plus) wealth management firm or family office that has led the way in terms of creating an inclusive and positive working environment for its staff, while also having a well-developed succession/business continuation structure in place for the future.

“Thank you to the entire team for their individual contributions that truly create a firm culture that we are proud of,” said Stephen Rigali, Executive Managing Director, Kayne Anderson Rudnick. “Our founder, John Anderson had a mantra to always ‘do the right thing’ and each person at Kayne Anderson Rudnick embodies that mindset. Our firm is run by smart, driven people whose varied backgrounds inform everything we do, from nurturing client relationships to implementing investment strategies.”

Often regarded as the “Oscars” of the US private asset management industry, the PAM Awards has over two decades of recognition as identifying top investment professionals, wealth advisors, legal firms, consultants, and other key service providers, showcasing the incredible achievements they have accomplished.

To be considered for the PAM Awards, the Kayne Anderson Rudnick team provided evidence of the steps taken to achieve a positive working environment, testimonials from staff, and turnover statistics that would support their submission. Kayne Anderson Rudnick is described as striving to do the right thing and maintaining a team-oriented culture of accessibility, open and honest communication, and respect. The firm encourages an environment of intellectual honesty and believes in empowering and growing its people.

Learn more about Who We Are and contact Us today.

KAR has not paid fees to the award sponsor to obtain the award and does not anticipate that it will pay fees to re-license the award. KAR sponsored part of the virtual gala for the awards ceremony, but doing so was not a prerequisite to winning the award.