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The Quartz Blog

Designed to provide timely and concise information on financial planning and wealth management subjects relevant to individuals and families pursuing and living a luxury lifestyle. Topics range from investment management and economic research to retirement and estate planning... and even travel

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Most of us cannot imagine the sudden loss of our spouse. Yet, difficult as it may seem to accept, U.S. Census data indicates that the overwhelming majority of married women will be on their own for a significant number of their later years.

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

As 2022 came to a close, The Secure Act 2.0, legislation designed to help Americans save for retirement, was signed into law. This Act introduces major changes to retirement savings rules. Of course, each of the changes will be...

Monday, February 28, 2022

With anxiety running high, here are some important numbers that should help calm some nerves.

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Thinking about what you would do if you won a large lottery jackpot? They say the odds are long, but rarely does a week go by that we don't hear of someone that actually guessed the right numbers or scratched the lucky ticket. So in...

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

If you have recently lost your spouse, you’re trying to navigate grief while getting your new financial situation under control. You don’t have to grapple with these challenges alone — a trustworthy financial firm...

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Wednesday, May 26, 2021

As the senior operations associate at Quartz Financial, I often get the opportunity to help our clients transfer international securities held in international accounts. While wiring funds internationally or even transferring...

Thursday, March 18, 2021

As the NCAA basketball tournament begins, we wanted to share our Final Four with all of you. Okay, okay, so we might have a different final four in the halls of Quartz than you might be thinking about. Our Final Four is related to 4...

Thursday, February 11, 2021

How many ways does Your Financial Advisor bring resources to your financial health? From the infamous movie, Office Space, do you ever find yourself asking your financial advisor, “What would you say you do around here?” As...

Monday, October 19, 2020

The presidential election is right around the corner and we are ready to make a prediction. Yes, we realize it is a bold move. Before we get to the prediction, just a few facts are in order: 10 of 11 recessions since 1950 have begun...

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

We met a lottery winner this week. He was referred to us by his realtor SEVEN YEARS AGO! Better late than never, right? We will spare you the list of things that the first “advisor” should have done, recommended, or never...

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Those who have Wanderlust in them to travel the world are now “suffering” from a bad case of it in 2020. But, take heart, the “cure” is here as countries open up to Americans. Conditions are changing and will...

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger is famous for more than just his time on the bench. When he died in 1995, he left a 176-word will that gave no specific power to his executors.1 As a result, he reportedly cost his estate tens...

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Today’s topic focuses on sudden wealth and using life insurance. To lend his expertise on today’s topic is Harvey Strait. Harvey is a regional Vice President for Pacific Life based in Austin, Texas. Pacific Life provides...

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

We had the privilege of spending time with one of our favorite clients last week creating his Non-Financial Retirement Plan. Yes, you read that right—a Non-Financial Retirement Plan. As you know, we take care of many things for...

Friday, September 4, 2020

September 4, 2020 is a milestone that marks Quartz’s 13th year as a company. As we embark on our 14th year, we can’t help but think back to 2007. You may remember that the U.S. bear market of 2007-2009 began just a few...

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

August 26 is Women’s Equality Day. Women’s Equality Day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievement...

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

My in-laws are preparing to move to a continuing care retirement community. They chose one close to the home they have lived in for the past 31 years. The apartment they selected is beautiful especially after a few cosmetic changes are...

Friday, August 7, 2020

Forty-four percent of American women are the primary breadwinner in their house.1 Yet only 10% of women feel very confident in their ability to fully retire with a comfortable lifestyle.2 Although more women are providing for their...

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Remember the excitement of the weeks leading up to the first day of school? Shopping for clothes and school supplies, new lunch boxes, meeting your new teachers were all part of the process. The anticipation of seeing old friends and...

Friday, July 17, 2020

As business owners, we understand the analogy that our company is “our baby”. So much time goes into the creation and growth of a company that the time commitment feels very much like raising a child. Sometimes business...

Friday, July 10, 2020

Today’s #SuddenWealthSaturday explains why donating money is just one piece of the philanthropic puzzle. Our special guest is Dr. Alison Alter, District 10 representative on the Austin City Council and former independent...

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Passing the torch of wealth through generations is critically important to affluent families. Family meetings, typically lead by wealth management firms offering family office services, create intentional time for families to reflect...

Friday, June 12, 2020

Early in the pandemic we wrote about controlling what you can control. We continue to stress to the Quartz Family to maintain that perspective as we fight through the virus and the volatility and stress it has caused on the economy....

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Remember as a kid waiting to get on a ride at an amusement park, and asking your friends who just finished the ride, “how was it?!” As adults we don’t have the same desire to experience the “thrills” of a...

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Here is a snapshot into the makings of a firm, that for the past 13 years, has provided wealth management and family office services to families of sudden wealth to generational wealth...

Thursday, May 7, 2020

So how are we doing? It is a common question from clients these days with multiple responses depending on the underlying meaning of the question. As a wealth management firm, the “we”, usually translates into, “how is...

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

What does the road to recovery look like to YOU? For many, the view from your home offices look similar and yet so different depending on your perspective. What does the road to recovery from COVID-19 look like to someone with a loved...

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

As you may be aware, in January of this year, I joined the board of The Austin Center for Grief & Loss. The impact that this organization has on those experiencing the trauma of losing a loved one is a natural fit for the work Quartz...

Monday, March 30, 2020

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic is being felt in all areas of our society. Fortunately, we have some of the best minds in healthcare leading our medical and social response. Additionally, we’ve had unprecedented monetary...

Friday, March 20, 2020

If you’re divorced or separated, money management will become an important part of your life. While it may be true that money can’t buy or ensure happiness, your ability to manage your finances can play a large role in your...

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Uncertainty of Coronavirus continues as does the uncertainty in the financial world. You’ve heard this a few times now, control what you can control. Stay home when you can, social distance, wash your hands, drink plenty of...

Thursday, March 12, 2020

We wanted to give you a quick update on activity related to the coronavirus. Thank you to those who are “checking on us”. We are fine and remaining calm in spite of the off and on panic you may be seeing on your favorite...

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

In a crisis, the market goes through phases of denial, realization and exaggerated responses. The question about the current Coronavirus crisis is, "Is this a temporary phenomenon or is it creating a structural change in the global...

Thursday, February 27, 2020

First, we want to thank our clients for not panicking about the current situation related to the coronavirus. That tells us that you understand the nature of events that can have short term effects on the markets. It also tells us that...

Friday, February 21, 2020

If you happened to be a senior citizen you may be wondering, how can “sudden wealth” possibly happen to me? Unfortunately, sudden wealth typically happens to senior citizens by the death of their beloved spouse. Now you...

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

In 2007 we had a broad range of pursuits as we started Quartz Financial. The goal of changing the status quo of financial advice and providing comprehensive guidance, eventually morphed into writing books about sudden wealth and the...

Friday, February 14, 2020

As business owners, we understand the analogy that our company is our “baby”. So much time and care goes into the creation and growth of a company that the “time commitment” feels very much like raising a child....

Friday, February 7, 2020

Anytime we mention we are sudden wealth specialists, we always hear, “I can’t wait until I get my sudden wealth”… Well be careful what you wish for because sometimes sudden wealth can occur as the result of a...

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

David Rust, ChFC®, AIF®, AAMS®, CRPS® of Quartz Financial has earned the designation Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) The AIF designation signifies specialized knowledge of fiduciary responsibility and...

Friday, January 24, 2020

Were your parents’ spenders or savers? Maybe one was a saver and the other a spender? These family dynamics typically transfer from the previous generation.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Today’s #SuddenWealthSaturday article is from Julie Clark, owner of Julia Clark CPA and Associates. She is a member of AICPA and the Society of Certified Public Accountants. Many sudden wealth recipients are surprised at the tax...

Friday, January 10, 2020

Dear Friends of Quartz, Can you spare a couple of minutes? Time, although scarce, is something you have graciously given us for over 12 years, and we appreciate it! 2020 is finally here and we are excited to start our 5th decade in the...

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

If advertisements and commercials are beginning to feature scenes of happy families, clad in brightly colored sweaters, gathered by a fire, surrounded by an assortment of presents, then the countdown to the holidays has begun. Although...

Friday, August 30, 2019

Dear Quartz Family Members and Friends, September 4th marks the 12-year anniversary of Quartz Financial. My how time flies! Thanks to all of you, the journey has been successful and enjoyable. We thank our clients, professional...

Thursday, August 15, 2019

According to Wikipedia, the prisoner’s dilemma is a paradox in decision analysis in which two individuals acting in their own self-interests do not produce the optimal outcome. It is one of the most well-known concepts in modern...

Monday, July 8, 2019

Winning the Tour de France is the consummate team sport. Every July, thousands of people travel to France to cheer on their favorite cyclist or team to victory. Before you think, "Doesn’t only one cyclist win the race?”,...

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Approximately 700,000 women lose their husbands each year. Of all married women, 75% will be widowed at least once in their lives. Despite common beliefs that becoming a widow is the sentence of older women, the average age of a woman...

Monday, April 29, 2019

The recession is coming! The recession is coming! It's a certainty, right? It must be, because all of the financial news networks are talking about it non-stop every day. This month's popular topic is the inversion of the yield curve....

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Retirement has taken a different meaning for many people of traditional retirement age. Motivated by the idea of spending more time with family and maintaining their career at a part time level allows them to have the best of both...

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Consider the case of Jack and Nina. Together they worked side by side to build a company that supported their family for years. Through much effort and sacrifice, their company, a beacon of the community, became attractive to larger...

Monday, November 27, 2017

You’re enjoying retirement after a long successful career. You don’t want surprises, so you need a team of professionals to take care of your financial health- a family office. Consider the case of Steve, a recently retired...

Monday, August 28, 2017

Many affluent parents worry that their wealth will create children of entitlement. The children of sudden wealth especially can experience a significant change in their living environment at very impressionable ages. Consider the case...

Monday, August 15, 2016

Your required return is based on data and analysis of your financial plan. It is the return needed, taking into account your time horizon, asset base, liquidity needs, savings behavior, tax sensitivity and risk tolerance amo

Friday, June 3, 2016

In the death of a spouse, it is not uncommon for financial management to be a new burden that may have been previously handled by the spouse who passed away. Add to the loss of a spouse, the responsibility for any insurance payouts or other

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Quartz Financial specializes in sudden wealth because they care about the people who have the unique experience of suddenly being responsible for considerably more money than ever before. They know that it takes a different set of

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The sale of a business is often the end of a major accomplishment, and the start of a new challenge. In exchange for financial security, some former business owners experience a loss of identity. The emotional challenges in these types of s