Magnolia Private Wealth - Insights

Thought Leadership

Insights from Our Team.

The Frontier of Tax-Aware Investing

Noah Schwartz, CFP®

October 21, 2026

“Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society.”* They fund infrastructure, national defense, legal systems, and public services that make our prosperity possible. But overpaying is optional. There’s no trophy for best taxpayer.

How Big Is It?

John Fischer, PhD

November 4, 2026

It’s big. Artificial intelligence is changing our work and our lives in ways we see already and in others we can’t predict. At Magnolia, we’ve learned to make predictions sparingly. In that sense, this moment is made for us.

This Time is Different

John Fischer, PhD

August 14, 2026

The most dangerous sentence in finance is “This time is different.” We ignore history at our peril. Boom-and-bust cycles are a product of human nature itself. But sometimes a little math will identify clear differences between then and now.

Who Chooses?

John Fischer, PhD

Who chooses the investments in your portfolio? You may think it’s your advisor: it says so in the contract. Don’t be so sure. If you believe these are important decisions , we encourage you to look closely at who’s been making them and how.

When It Rains, It Pours

John Fischer, PhD

February 9, 2026

Ten-dollar umbrellas might sell for twenty in a downpour, so it’s better to buy them when the sun’s out. “Fair” is just a matter of opinion: supply and demand set the price no matter the weather. The same is true of financial assets.

2026 Tax Form Schedule

January 21, 2026

Here you will find the tax form availability schedule as provided by Fidelity and Charles Schwab.

Magnolia’s Perspective (November 2025): The Everything Bubble

John Fischer, PhD

November 24, 2025

Let’s get this out of the way: we’re not saying we’re in a bubble, and we are absolutely not claiming we know when any bubble will burst.

5 Key Areas to Focus On Before Selling Your Business

Chris J. Roe, CPA/PFS

October 16, 2025

Selling your business may be the most important financial transaction of your life. It is not just about signing a deal—it is about securing your family’s future, protecting your legacy, and maximizing the wealth you’ve worked decades to build.

You Only Live Once

John Fischer, PhD

October 1, 2025

We mark the passing of Jonathan Clements, a long-time columnist for the Wall Street Journal and prolific blogger. He was an early (and controversial) advocate for index investing, and a champion of simplifying personal finance to encourage his readers to pursue life’s broader purpose.

The “One Big, Beautiful Bill” and What It Means for Your Family’s Finances

Chris J. Roe, CPA/PFS

Every tax code change offers an opportunity for clients to re-assess their financial plans and the composition of their portfolios. The “One Big, Beautiful Bill” is less dramatic than the nickname suggests

Magnolia's Perspective (April 2025)

John Fischer, PhD

AI: Where's the Moat?

John Fischer, PhD

Investors are likely aware of the meteoric rise in Nvidia’s stock price, reflecting the dominance of their microchips fueling the artificial intelligence boom. But we believe the most sustainable advantage (or moat) lies elsewhere in the AI value chain.

Investing

Think Global

John Fischer, PhD

There’s no place like home. And for investors, there’s no place like their home market: throughout the world, they are over-invested in their own countries.

Observations

The Man Who Solved the Market

John Fischer, PhD

We note the passing of Jim Simons, arguably the greatest hedge fund manager of all time.

Markets

Got Cocoa?

John Fischer, PhD

Got cocoa? Maybe, but probably not much. This is one of the biggest finance stories of the year.

Oservations

Flaws in Human Judgment?

John Fischer, PhD

We mark the passing of a pioneer of the field of behavioral finance.

Investing

A Larger Pie

John Fischer, PhD

The secret to building a better portfolio is no secret at all.

Markets

The Only Free Lunch?

John Fischer, PhD

Is diversification the only free lunch in investing? If only!

Investing

Private Markets: The Velvet Rope

John Fischer, PhD

This may be the dawn of a golden age for high net-worth investors. But caution is warranted.

Investing

Liquid to Solid: Navigating Liquidity Across Investment Vehicles

Noah Schwartz, CFP®

We've prepared this summary to explain what illiquidity means, the potential benefits of illiquid and less liquid investments, and the spectrum of illiquidity present in different investment vehicles.

Updates

Why I Wear Glasses

Noah Schwartz, CFP®

I suffer from common myopia (near-sightedness), a condition my optometrist says could easily be fixed with LASIK corrective surgery. I’ve been wearing glasses since high school and I’ve been consistently told I’m a good candidate for the procedure. The prospect of seeing clearly all the time is tempting.

Strategy

Considerations for a Lump Sum Pension Distribution

Larry G. Peery, II

In recent years, many employees have been presented with offers by their employer or former employer for a lump sum pension distribution. This irrevocable decision should not be taken lightly, and careful analysis should be performed.

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Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.