The Lerner Group - Hightower Advisors

06/02/2026

The midpoint of the year is an ideal moment to step back, evaluate your progress, and revisit your financial plan to ensure everything remains aligned.

Here are six key questions to help guide the conversation:

1. Big‑Picture Alignment
→ Are your goals or life circumstances different than they were in January? Changes like a new job, marriage, or family updates may require adjustments to your plan. Are you still on track for major goals like retirement, education funding, or a home purchase?

2. Portfolio & Market Positioning
→ How has your portfolio performed year‑to‑date relative to benchmarks, and is your current allocation still appropriate?

3. Cash Flow, Savings & Budget
→ Are your retirement and savings contributions on track for the year?

4. Protection & Risk Management
→ Do beneficiaries or insurance policies need updating based on recent family or employment changes?

5. Taxes & Planning Opportunities
→ Are there new investment opportunities or tax‑advantaged accounts worth exploring now?

6. Administrative & Structural Check‑In
→ Have there been changes in income, expenses, or cash‑flow needs that should be reflected in your plan?

A financial advisor can help you assess your progress, adjust your strategy, and realign your plan with your goals.

Reach out to schedule a meeting and take the next step toward a stronger rest of the year. → https://hubs.li/Q04gpsK30

05/28/2026

🤝 Family wealth planning isn’t just about building and passing down assets, it’s about preserving values, relationships, and intentions across generations.

The strongest legacy plans bring families together through:

• Clear communication
• Shared values and purpose
• Thoughtful planning around money, roles, and responsibilities

When families take the time to align on what matters most, wealth becomes a tool for connection, not conflict. Planning early and intentionally helps ensure your legacy reflects both your financial goals and your family’s well-being.

05/27/2026

What’s happening in the bond market, and where are the opportunities?

In this quarterly Income Ave recording, JR Gondeck and Matt Taylor break down the latest trends shaping fixed income and share where they’re seeing value today. They also discuss how potential changes within the Federal Reserve could influence interest rates in the months ahead. Tune in for timely insights to help guide your investment strategy.

What’s happening in the bond market, and where are the opportunities? In this quarterly Income Ave recording, JR Gondeck and Matt Taylor break down the lates...

05/26/2026

🏠 Estate planning isn’t just about documents, it’s about understanding your full financial picture.

For many couples, that starts with asking the right questions. Knowing how assets are owned, what obligations exist, and how decisions are made can make a meaningful difference, not just today, but over the long term.

Here are 7 questions every couple should be asking:
• Know your assets: What’s yours, your spouse’s, and shared—and how they’re titled
• Know your debts: Understand joint vs. individual liabilities to avoid surprises
• Know your plan: Who controls trusts, what assets fund them, and how distributions work
• Know your runway: Will your investments support your lifestyle long term?
• Know your obligations: Divorce, alimony, and post nuptial considerations matter
• Know the business: Clarify rights to business income and ownership
• Know your taxes: Don’t sign a joint return without understanding the risks

Estate planning often takes a back seat, especially in strong marriages. But clarity now helps protect your financial security and peace of mind later. Working with a trusted advisor today can make all the difference when life inevitably changes.

05/25/2026

Today we pause to honor the fallen and remember their sacrifices. Their courage lives on in every moment we live our lives in peace.

05/22/2026

Congratulations to Jin Liu, CPWA®CIMA®, for being spotlighted on the Investments & Wealth Institute Website for AAPI Heritage Month 👏🎉.

Click below to see her full Q&A ↓

Get to know your fellow certified investment and wealth advisors in these brief snapshots, showcasing the people who make up our membership and community.

05/21/2026

According to CNBC, an estimated $54 trillion is expected to transfer between spouses in the coming decades, with the vast majority going to surviving partners later in life.

For many families, this moment arrives during an already difficult transition, highlighting just how important preparation and shared financial understanding truly are.

Whether your family has formal plans in place or not, proactive conversations and coordinated guidance can make all the difference when it matters most.

🤝Preparation isn’t just about wealth. It’s about confidence.

Source: CNBC, “Older women set to inherit most of $54 trillion in ‘great wealth transfer’ to widowed spouses,” March 14, 2026
https://hubs.li/Q04cn12g0

05/19/2026

Wealth can bring families closer, or create unnecessary tension, depending on how clearly expectations are shared.

Five ways families can stay aligned (and avoid conflict) around wealth:
🤲 Give together. Shared philanthropy builds connection and a sense of common purpose.
⚖️ Define your values. A simple family mission statement helps guide decisions—especially during change.
🗣️ Talk early. Communicating intentions before it’s too late prevents confusion later.
❓ Explain the “why.” Sharing goals with your attorney leads to better planning outcomes.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Don’t overlook the small things. Sentimental items often carry the deepest meaning—and deserve clarity.

Thoughtful planning isn’t just about assets. It’s about communication, transparency, and protecting family relationships for generations to come.

05/18/2026

We’re proud of our team for hitting the ground running at the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge last week!

Great job to everyone who participated—it was a beautiful night in Chicago for a run.

05/15/2026

Family meetings often feel harder than they need to be, largely because of the assumptions we make about them.

Many families believe these conversations require a crisis, endless time, or perfect preparation. The reality is that most effective family meetings are proactive, intentional, and surprisingly simple.

When families take the time to talk, before stress enters the picture, they gain clarity, alignment, and shared understanding across generations.

At The Lerner Group, we help families move past the myths and into meaningful conversations that actually work.

➡️ If you’ve been postponing a family meeting, now is the right time to start.
Let’s help guide the conversation with purpose and confidence.