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Alert 02.06.2024

2023 Year in Review

2023 was a pivotal year for both the stock market and Lowell, Blake & Associates. Against the backdrop of the highest inflation in a generation, 2023 surpassed expectations for the economy and stock market.

Quarterly Report 01.29.2024

2023 Fourth Quarter Review: Inflation Declined and Unemployment Remained Low

The stock market climbed a mountain of worry in 2023, surprising most investors who were concerned about a recession. As it turned out, many investors were caught flat footed when inflation declined and unemployment remained low, while the economy and corporate earnings remained resilient and picked up speed. 

Alert 12.20.2023

Save Your Receipts! How to document your charitable contributions to claim a tax deduction

In addition to helping nonprofit organizations perform important work, charitable contributions can be a great way to lower your income tax bill. To make sure that you can claim a tax deduction, it is important to follow several recordkeeping rules required by the IRS.

Alert 12.14.2023

Corporate Transparency Act:
LLCs and Other Entities Required to Report Ownership and Control Information to the Federal Government, Deadlines Vary

The new federal disclosure requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) will come into effect on January 1, 2024, although only certain entities (those formed in 2024) will need to report next year.  For entities formed before 2024, the deadline for reporting will be later, on January 1, 2025.

Alert 11.13.2023

IRS Releases Annual Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2024

The Internal Revenue Service recently released annual inflation adjustments for 2024. They include increased gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer (“GST”) tax exemptions and annual gift tax exclusions, increased retirement account limits, and new income tax brackets.

Announcement 11.01.2023

Lowell Blake Team Joins Choate

Choate Hall & Stewart LLP announced today that the team of professionals at Lowell Blake & Associates (LBA) will join Choate’s Wealth Management Group.

Quarterly Report 10.25.2023

2023 Third Quarter Review: The Jury is Still Out on a “Soft Landing” for the US Economy

Our third quarter review addresses the outlook for rising interest rates, how increased yield rates from new US Government bonds are pushing bond prices lower, and labor market strength despite higher interest rates on the economy and corporate earnings.

Choate Family Office Podcast 10.23.2023

Utilizing ESG as Criteria in Investment Analysis

In this episode of the Family Office Services Podcast Series, Choate Investment Advisors’ Erin Kerr and Alison Svizzero discuss how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are used by investors in evaluating companies, in addition to traditional fundamental analysis, to determine long-term performance.

Alert 10.10.2023

Massachusetts Tax Relief Bill Signed Into Law

On October 4, 2023, Governor Maura Healey signed into law “An Act to improve the Commonwealth’s competitiveness, affordability, and equity.”  The Act makes key tax changes to the Massachusetts estate tax and short-term capital gains, and closes the "millionaires tax" loophole for married couples, in addition to other provisions.