Trust Company Talks: Recent Episodes

Trust Company of the South

Trust Company Talks is an investing and wealth management podcast brought to you by Trust Company of the South. Hosted by Bill Noble and Burke Koonce, Trust Company Talks features guests discussing a wide range of topics of interest for individual and institutional investors with a particular focus on wealth management. Enjoy!

In this episode of Trust Company Talks, hosts Burke Koonce and Bill Noble are joined by Trust Company's chief investment officer, Dan Tolomay, to discuss the current state of the markets. Together, the trio explores market conditions, the impact of the Federal Reserve and China’s role in the global economy.

Specifically, they discuss:

Benefits of data-driven, long-term investing and the significant impact the top 10 S&P Index stocks had on its performance.
The unpredictability and high valuations of large-cap growth stocks.
The transformative role of the Federal Reserve in shaping investment landscapes and the potential effects of interest rate shifts and quantitative easing.
Emerging markets and the potential consequences of China's economic bubble, especially in real estate.
The enduring appeal of value investing and the delicate balance between risk and reward.

They discuss the importance of diversification amidst market volatility and why they prefer taking compensated risks as opposed to "putting all your eggs in one basket." Overall, Dan expressed confidence in Trust Company's investing approach and strategic positioning, underlining the importance of a thoughtful, well-diversified portfolio to preserve and grow wealth.

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did, and as always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.

In this festive edition of Trust Company Talks, hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce sit down with Ira David Wood III, executive director of Theatre in the Park, as he prepares for his final year of portraying Ebenezer Scrooge in his very own musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

Throughout the conversation, they discuss David's childhood memories in Enfield, North Carolina. They also delve into his extensive career as an author, actor, and producer and his work with Theatre in the Park—an organization dedicated to providing a quality theatre experience to a diverse audience base in Raleigh and the surrounding area.

Theatre in the Park's iconic production of A Christmas Carol has been a community staple for over 50 years, and they dive into its iconic history and positive local impact. Here, David emphasizes the importance of humor in connecting with the audience and the overall transformative power of theater.

Additionally, the conversation touches upon the nostalgic elements of Christmas, its ability to bring out the inner child in us all, and the emotional resonance of holiday performances. David encourages people to embrace the bittersweet feelings that often accompany the season, acknowledging the Christmas blues and the power of art to uplift and bring joy. David also openly shares his thoughts on legacy, death and who may take over the infamous role of Scrooge.

Overall, this conversation highlights the communal environment and transformative power of theater, teaching all who are a part of it never to underestimate the strength of kindness, hugs and encouragement.

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did, and as always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.

In this episode of Trust Company Talks, we sat down with Gavin Stevens, executive director at Alamance Community Foundation (ACF), an organization dedicated to strengthening Alamance County through inspired and collaborative giving. The foundation was established in 1991 in Burlington, North Carolina, and, as a long-term partner, Trust Company of the South has had the pleasure of witnessing the organization's impact on the Alamance community first-hand.

Throughout the conversation, they discuss ACF's history and role in collective giving and supporting community needs. The foundation serves as a hub for connecting donors with causes and providing support, including helping individuals who want to support the community but are unsure about specific needs. They also discuss Alamance County's unique position as a rapidly growing area with diverse economic development and how the foundation is crucial in addressing challenges arising from this growth, such as shortages in early childcare services.

Additionally, Gavin shares her thoughts on the transfer of wealth and the need for intentional, long-term planning in the non-profit community. She also shares the impact of inflation on charitable giving and ACF's strategies for navigating these economic challenges.

Community foundations play a vital role in fostering collaboration, addressing community needs and creating a lasting impact through strategic philanthropy. Here at Trust Company of the South, we encourage anyone who desires to make an authentic, tangible difference in your community to connect with a local community foundation, such as the Alamance Community Foundation. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.

In this episode of Trust Company Talks, hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce are joined by special guest Dave Beischer, a Trust Company of the South board member and fifth-generation Durhamite, to share his family's experience as a client of Trust Company of the South for the past 26 years.

The conversation centers on Dave's relationship with Trust Company, and how it evolved over the years from fiduciary services to wealth management, investments, tax strategies, risk management, corporate execution and management of the Fox Family Foundation, a philanthropic arm dedicated to supporting the Triangle nonprofit community.

During the episode, Dave shares his thoughts on the three areas where Trust Company differentiates itself from other providers: the culture and sense of family, the people and the fiduciary standard of care.

Culture and Sense of Family: Trust Company believes in the importance of developing a close, personal understanding of each client's family, ensuring a relationship that goes beyond business to become a trusted friend.
The People: It's not just about managing wealth; it's about the people behind the process. Dave emphasizes the exceptional expertise and commitment of the team at Trust Company.
Fiduciary Standard of Care: Trust Company follows a strict fiduciary standard of care. Dave elaborates on how this distinguishes them from other providers, ensuring that your best interests are always put first.

Additionally, Dave shares his thoughts on the value of having outside board members, like himself, who were initially clients. He emphasizes the importance of an external perspective and mentions the positive impact of outside board members on the firm's decision-making processes.

As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.

In this episode of Trust Company Talks, hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce are joined by Edward Saracino, senior portfolio specialist with Vanguard Financial Advisor Services, a longstanding investment partner of Trust Company of the South. During the conversation, Noble, Koonce and Saracino share insights on the current financial market, the pros and cons of different types of portfolio construction, and Vanguard's role as a resource to Trust Company clients.

Some of the specific topics discussed include:

The current macro environment and predictions for inflation, rate hikes and a potential recession
Saracino's experience over the last 20 years working with Vanguard and the organizational structure of the Vanguard Financial Advisory Services Division
The pros and cons of an actively managed packaged solution, such as a Vanguard fund or ETF
The importance of portfolio diversification for growing and protecting wealth
Why Vanguard recommends an increasingly higher percentage allocated to international investments
Commonly held misconceptions some may have regarding their investments, i.e. the 60/40 portfolio and whether or not it is "dead"

As always, if you have any questions about Trust Company's approach to investment management, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.

In this episode of Trust Company Talks, hosts Bill Noble and Burk Koontz are joined by Chris Mumma, the executive director of the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence. During their conversation, Mumma shares her insightful journey from a career in finance to her current role, seeking justice for those wrongly imprisoned.

During the episode, some of the topics listeners will learn about include:

The factors that drew Mumma to the Center for Actual Innocence and its mission
The establishment of the NC Center on Actual Innocence to address wrongful convictions
How Trust Company of the South currently works with exonerees as fiduciary advisors
Key issues that need to be addressed by the legal system, including expanding the use of recording in detention facilities, providing bias training and implementing uniform checklists
The Center’s involvement in a high-profile case to exonerate Daniel Green, and why she believes he is innocent
Why policy changes are necessary to increase the reliability of convictions

The podcast episode concludes by discussing the non-profit nature of the Center for Innocence. The Center relies on donations and grants, with 45% of its funding coming from exonerees who pay it forward to help others who are wrongly imprisoned. Mumma hopes that as the center progresses, more foundations will become interested in supporting their cause, leading to further growth and impact.

If you are an exoneree or are interested in donating to this cause, please do not hesitate to contact us. Here at Trust Company of the South, we work with exonerees, acting as their fiduciary advisors and helping them reintegrate into society. We provide investment strategies to maximize their finances, assist with tax payments and trust fund allowances and provide them with ways to maximize their second chance at life.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.

For this special episode of Trust Company Talks, hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce are joined by former fighter pilot, prisoner of war, professional speaker and a true American hero (who also happened to be born on the Fourth of July): Colonel Quincy Collins. During this conversation, Noble and Koonce go beyond wealth, investments and estate planning to give listeners a taste of some of the remarkable clients we serve, which includes the Colonel.

During this episode, some of the topics listeners will learn about include:

The childhood that fostered the patriotic and heroic spirit within the Colonel and how he went from potentially running his father’s furniture store to joining the Air Force
How music resonated throughout the Colonel’s life, from singing in the choir as a child to performing at the White House
Valuable lessons that the Colonel learned during his time at the Air Force Academy and as an Air Training Officer
The Colonel’s experience of being shot down and fascinating stories of resilience that occurred while he was a POW in North Vietnam
How the Colonel defines “freedom” after being released from Vietnam and finally returning back home after being imprisoned for seven and a half years

As this conversation with the Colonel shows, it is not always an easy path to glory. Rather, it is a long journey filled with peaks and valleys – similar as it is with investing. If you are interested in learning more about the extraordinary story of this true American patriot, we encourage you to pick up the Colonel’s memoir, Out of the Blue. As always, if you have any questions about anything discussed during this podcast episode, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.

During this episode of Trust Company Talks, host Bill Noble sits down with his co-host and Trust Company of the South's investment strategist, Burke Koonce, to delve into the topic of investment strategy. However, their conversation doesn't stop there. Koonce also shares about his fascinating side hustle producing award-winning financial documentaries, which have gained recognition on popular streaming platforms like Netflix and HBO Max.

While writing about investing strategy and producing financial documentaries both draw on Koonce's passion for storytelling, these activities also involve the behavioral component of investing, which is arguably even more important than technical expertise over the long haul.

During this episode, listeners will also learn about:

The many hats worn by Koonce as Trust Company’s investment strategist
Where Koonce finds inspiration for writing about specific investing subject matters
How Koonce discovered he had a passion for storytelling through both written and film formats
How Koonce’s position at Trust Company has helped him craft successful financial documentaries
An overview of Koonce’s two documentaries, Betting on Zeroand Gaming Wall Street, and the lessons investors can learn from them
How producing financial documentaries helps fine-tune Koonce’s own investment expertise
The best books for individuals who are interested in learning more about investing

As always, if you have any questions about anything discussed during this podcast episode or Koonce’s documentaries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.

Welcome to Trust Company Talks, the investing and wealth management podcast brought to you by Trust Company of the South.

In this episode, hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce sit down with Chris Sawin, president and CEO of the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF), to discuss all things community foundation-oriented. From the unique geographic region served by OBCF to their work in disaster relief, grantmaking, scholarships and nonprofit support, Sawin shares insights into the impactful work being done by OBCF. Additionally, he delves into the foundation's fascinating origin story and the strategies they utilize to raise capital so that they can further their mission. Tune in to learn more about the important work done by community foundations and how OBCF is making a difference.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.

In this episode of Trust Company Talks, hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce are joined by Trust Company of the South’s own chief investment officer, Dan Tolomay, CFA, for a highly informative conversation about a wide range of investment topics and Dan’s tried and true history with our firm over numerous market cycles.

During this episode, listeners will also learn about:

Dan’s background and how he came to join our firm
What having a CFA designation means and the process to obtain one
A typical day as the CIO at Trust Company of the South
Our unique approach to managing investment portfolios
How tax harvesting funds can be an effective strategy during market volatility
Our long-standing partnership with Dimensional Fund Advisors
Our investment philosophy and why it includes a global approach and alternatives
The role an investor’s behavior plays in the success of their portfolio
How Trust Company has evolved throughout the past fifteen years

This episode was originally recorded in December of 2022.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh. You can find more episodes of Trust Company Talks on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Receive the episodes as soon as they premiere by subscribing today.

Trust Company Talks hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce are joined by Trust Company of the South's own president and chief executive officer, William H. Smith, for a conversation about the history of Trust Company and what lies ahead for the firm and the clients and markets we serve. And as much as Bill Smith would have liked to avoid it, we did manage to get him to talk about himself just a little. This was a truly wonderful and insightful discussion and we hope everyone enjoys it.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh.

Trust Company Talks hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce are joined by Trust Company's own Westray Veasey, Chief Fiduciary Officer, for a discussion of what's happening in the world of trust and estate planning.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh.

Trust Company Talks hosts Bill Noble and Burke Koonce are joined by Mark Roberts, Chief Investment Officer at Ironsides Asset Advisors, for a discussion of what's happening in the world of private equity and alternative investing.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh.

Bill Noble and Burke Koonce of Trust Company of the South are joined by Dave Butler and Jack Nicholson of Dimensional Fund Advisors for a discussion of what's happening in markets and how Dimensional is navigating market volatility.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh.

Bill Noble and Burke Koonce of Trust Company of the South are joined by mergers and acquisitions experts Amy Risseeuw of Wyrick Robbins and Charles Shook of Trestle Capital for a discussion of the current M&A landscape for small business owners.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh.

Bill Noble and Burke Koonce of Trust Company of the South are joined by their good friends Nick Puleo and Jack Nicholson of Dimensional Funds.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh.

Bill Noble and Burke Koonce of Trust Company of the South are joined by their friends Leland Little and Lauren Sanford of Leland Little Auctions.

Trust Company Talks is a production of Trust Company of the South, one of the premier wealth management firms in the Southeast. Trust Company is a privately held firm based in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Charlotte and Raleigh.