At the second annual Women’s Leadership Summit hosted by October Research, Sheri Olsen, Senior Vice President and National Sales Director of Banking Services, shared her experiences of success and failure in the real estate industry. She also discussed the lessons she learned to help others in their pursuit of success. "As we’re going through this ... Read More›

Our parent company, First American, has been recognized on the 2024 Fortune Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance™ list for the eighth consecutive year. We're excited to be part of a company that has a strong commitment to its employees. To delve deeper into our ranking and see what our employees have to say, be sure to check out ... Read More›

“The GDP, the measure of our economy, is still strong and 3% is definitely higher than we've seen in the past. We do see signs of it starting to slow, but not yet slowing to a point where we're in a recession,” said Jerry Braakman. Jerry Braakman, President and Chief Investment Officer, and Scott Dudgeon, Director of Equity Research, share their ... Read More›

Global equities were broadly positive in Q2-2024 though the pace of gains was slower than in the previous quarter and the relatively strong index gains, particularly in the U.S., were driven almost exclusively by a narrow subset of mega cap stocks. Government bonds were mixed as U.S. Treasury yields seesawed – rising as the Federal Reserve ... Read More›

Building an emergency savings fund is a critical component of financial stability and security. Key Reasons to Have an Emergency Savings Unexpected Expenses: It helps cover unforeseen costs like medical emergencies, car repairs, or urgent home repairs without incurring debt. Job Loss: It provides a financial cushion to support living expenses if ... Read More›

“…at the beginning of this year, there was an expectation and truly that expectation has been in the market for probably 18 months or so that we would potentially be facing a recession and economic slowdown. [Since that] was being priced in the market, one of the reasons the markets performed very well last year is that the expectation of the ... Read More›

Act I: The Masquerade Begins Historically, the U.S. corporate landscape resembled a grand masquerade ball. Behind masks of "LLCs" and shadowy subsidiaries, some took to financial mischief ranging from money laundering to downright fraudulent enterprises. In a move to lift these veils, Congress enacted the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in ... Read More›

Global equities continued to roar ahead in Q1-2024 buoyed by the resilient U.S. economy and ongoing investor infatuation with all things AI which powered technology stocks globally. Government bonds generally declined as slowing U.S. disinflation and stronger GDP growth pushed Treasury yields higher and prompted a reappraisal of expectations for ... Read More›

It’s that time of year again…yes, it’s tax season, which are due this year on April 15th (unless you file for an extension)! Key Takeaways It’s important to know where you fall in the current tax. Recent standard deduction increases may make it easier for you to file your taxes in the future. With 401(K) contribution limit increases in 2024, it’s ... Read More›

We are proud to be named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2024 list. Read More›

Christopher Schwarz, Ph.D., UC Irvine Professor and Faculty Director, and Jerry Braakman, First American Trust President and CIO, engage in a wide-ranging conversation about what is shaping our financial world. Watch this video recording to learn more about the following topics: Read More›

“…2023 was, was a great year for equities. The S&P 500 was up 26%, the Nasdaq was up 45%. Even the Russell 2000 small caps are up 17%, and bonds put up respectable mid-single digit returns as well. You're probably wondering how this all happened. Everyone was worried about a recession, and ironically that helped the setup,” said Scott Dudgeon. ... Read More›