Stearns Financial Group’s Post

Have you considered integrating art and collectibles into your estate plan? With the art market valued at $1.7 trillion and contemporary art appreciating at 14% annually, it's a valuable asset. Explore strategies for cataloging, appraising, and discussing your estate with beneficiaries. Whether you choose to gift, sell, or donate, a well-thought-out strategy will help to keep your legacy intact. #EstatePlanning #ArtInvestment #WealthManagement #LegacyPlanning

Have you considered integrating art and collectibles into your estate plan? With the art market valued at $1.7 trillion and contemporary art appreciating at 14% annually, it's a valuable asset. Explore strategies for cataloging, appraising, and discussing your estate with beneficiaries. Whether you choose to gift, sell, or donate, a well-thought-out strategy will help to keep your legacy intact. #EstatePlanning #ArtInvestment #WealthManagement #LegacyPlanning

#Deaccession art of a personal sort… Some of our private practice includes deaccessioning artworks from Private or Estate collections, often placing with qualified non-profit organizations.

My Glossy Friends Gloss.        I do not use much of it.  The real world is not glossy very often. The real world is mostly semi-gloss, or unfortunately sometimes it has a matte finish. Neither is the real world smooth. When I look for wood for my wood sculptures, I try to avoid the smooth wood. I look for scraps of wood, down in the dirt of the mill, sometimes in a special pile that is going to be thrown away soon, because no one wants that stuff. I like my wood to have bark. I like my wood to have saw marks showing where it was ripped from a larger plank. I like my wood rough; rough enough to cause a splinter in my finger, because sometimes life, in its generous way, gives me a splinter just to keep me awake. When I lay out the sculpture, I try to align the image so that it is straight and parallel, because in life, I am trying to do the same thing. I rarely go beyond a very coarse sandpaper, sometimes not using sandpaper at all. Life is not smooth.  Soon, once again, I will have the distinct privilege of riding my strange looking recumbent cycle alongside some of the bravest, strongest, most human human-beings I know. Some are paraplegics, some are quadriplegics. Some have serious pain that does not show at all, until, unfortunately, it is too late. We will ride 180 miles in an effort to accomplish goals that as individuals, we might not be able to attain. We work together. We ride together. We celebrate together. My friends and I have edges and ridges that have not been smoothed, although with time, the rough spots are getting rounded. We have “saw marks” that show where some of us were ripped from the life we were enjoying before, by an accident, by disease, by military conflict protecting the rights and privileges that the rest of us so often take for granted, and, unfortunately, those afflicted just by being born, like my grandson, Aaron. Beware, if we are ruffled, you might earn a splinter or two from us, just to keep you awake.  Our leader, Jennifer Moore, does not see the sharp edges. Jennifer does not see the jagged, bumpy, dinged and dented rough spots. She is not afraid of splinters. Jennifer sees potential, she sees physical, mental, and emotional growth opportunities. Jennifer does not seem to be aware of the matte finish. So, when I make the wood sculptures, the background, the “frame” of the piece, the part that represents the world, is often finished with “satin” or “matte” polyurethane. My handcycle friends however, are finished in gloss.       Please help us help others; please, today, help us bring new opportunities to my “glossy” friends.  Any amount will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you and please go to the link shown below.    https://lnkd.in/etnMP7NT 1.   Click: Donate Now 2.   Click: Your desired donation amount 3.   In the box marked: “Credit this donation to..” just type our team name: “Team Courageous”

In the ever-shifting landscape of finance and investments, where the tides of inflation dictate the ebb and flow of wealth, and the winds of market turmoil blow, certain commodities emerge as steadfast anchors in the storm. Among these hallowed treasures, diamonds, and gold stand out today as guards against economic uncertainty. With demand, the value can truly fly off. Consider for instance, the legendary 59.60-carat Pink Star diamond, a rare and exquisite gem that fetched a staggering $71.2 million at auction in 2017. Such monumental sales not only underscore the enduring appeal of diamonds as investments but also highlight the allure of exceptional natural specimens with their unparalleled rarity and beauty.   Gold and diamonds are not only representing the financial wealth. In the world of fashion, diamonds are not mere accessories; they are reflecting aspiration, as symbols of unbridled luxury and timeless elegance. And thanks to a industrial production, synthetic diamonds have emerged as the crown jewels of a new era. With their flawless clarity and mesmerizing brilliance, these ethically crafted gems have captured the imagination of designers and connoisseurs alike, carving out a niche at the intersection of luxury.   Believe it or not, the journey started in the rough halls (at the time) of Stockholm's ASEA lab, at Götgatan 16. Guided by the visionary zeal of Baltzar von Platen, and later supported by Halvard Leander, Erik G. Lundblad, and Fritz Wallin, the alchemy of high-pressure technology managed to copy the natural process of diamonds creation. Fast forward through the annals of time, and synthetic diamonds have transcended the confines of laboratory walls to grace the necks, ears, and wrists of the fashion elite. No longer tethered to the whims of geology, these ethically crafted gems shimmer with a brilliance unmatched, adorning the couture creations of the avant-garde and the red-carpet royalty alike. The true advantage of synthetic diamonds lies in their democratization of luxury, allowing anyone with a discerning eye and a flair for style to indulge in the timeless elegance of diamonds. When we buy our gems now, we just need to know the difference….  

Another great event weekend in the books at Abeles & Company This client had four events between Friday and Sunday including an epic festival themed Saturday night. .., I don’t post my clients’ - corporate, nonprofit and mitzvah - photos on LinkedIn typically as it seems more appropriate for other social platforms. Be sure to allow follow along on IG @abelesandcompany for photos along with event and fundraising tips. … #stl #stlevents #stlcreatives #stlstylist #corporateevents #nonprofitevents #stlprojectmanagement #stlmitzvah #stlconsulting #customerservice #collaboration #eventexperts #eventexperience

#Time2Sketch The Architects Benevolent Society Time 2 Sketch competition is such for such a good cause and is great fun too so why not join in! You will enjoy it! #sketch #sketching #architect #architecture #draw #drawing #sketchbook #architect #architecture #landscapearchitecture #engineering #architecturaltechnology

When you have furniture like sofas, credenzas, and tv consoles, knowing how and where to get rid of them sustainability can be a conundrum. Southern Living Magazine highlights four ways you can give your old furniture a meaningful second life, including donating those pieces to nonprofit organizations like #Goodwill. Instead of leaving your old furniture on the driveway outside of your home for garbage pickup, check out these four alternatives at https://lnkd.in/eZW9N5SK. #SustainableGood #DonateDontDump

Check out how you can support Isabella Johnstone's Honors Capstone plans through the NAU Foundation!

Marquam Realty and Auctions Group launched a blog! We are excited to dive deeper into how real estate auctions can benefit YOU. Whether you're a seller, buyer, nonprofit, estate planner, or wealth manager - we’ll be sharing insights on the advantages, who benefits most, and why this dynamic method is a win-win for everyone. Stay tuned for tips, stories, and all things auctions! Be sure to follow Marquam Realty and Auctions Group to stay in the know. #RealEstateAuctions #AuctionBenefits #MarquamRealty #BlogLaunch #NonprofitSolutions