Presilium Private Wealth

Does your company offer an Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)? Buying your company's stock at a 15% discount sounds like a no-brainer—free money, right? In this episode of Practical Cents, Cullen Martin breaks down why that discount might not be as beneficial as it seems. We explore the hidden dangers of "Concentration Risk," the tax implications that can wipe out your gains, and where your mo...

Market declines can feel unsettling, but for long-term investors, they can also create powerful opportunities. Temporary downturns often bring fear and uncertainty, yet history shows that some of the strongest market recoveries begin during those very moments. In this episode, Jerry Davidse explains why disciplined investors often benefit from market pullbacks and what recent market volatility can...

The first 90 days of any new financial partnership are the most critical period for establishing long-term success. In this episode, Brook from Presilium dives deep into the critical onboarding phase, explaining why rushing into major changes can be a costly mistake. He shares how focusing on context, clarity, and proactive communication transforms the initial phase into a solid, trusting, and lif...

Reaching one million views is an exciting milestone for the Presilium YouTube channel. When these videos first began, the goal wasn’t simply to generate views… It was to help families navigate the complex financial decisions they face every day. In this episode, Jerry Davidse reflects on the purpose behind the channel, why simplifying financial planning matters, and how education can help families...

After back-to-back strong market years, it’s natural to wonder how long the run can last. The truth is: nobody knows. What we do know is that market downturns are inevitable, and while they can feel unsettling in the moment, they can also create real planning opportunities if you’re prepared. In this video, Cullen walks through three strategies that can be especially powerful when markets are temp...

Six years after the market bottom during the COVID-19 pandemic, the lessons from that moment remain just as relevant for investors today. On March 23, 2020, global uncertainty was at its peak, the economy had effectively shut down, and the stock market had just experienced one of the fastest declines in history. In this episode, Jerry Davidse reflects on what that moment felt like, what investors...

In this week’s Financial Planning Friday, Jerry shares practical, values-based ways to teach kids about investing while keeping them grounded. The focus is on building strong habits: earning money before investing it, learning consistency, and understanding that long-term investing is intentionally “boring.” Key Takeaways: • Start with the “why,” not the “wow.” Help kids see investing as a tool fo...

As the tax filing deadline approaches, many investors find themselves revisiting financial terms that tend to surface only once a year. Concepts like adjusted gross income, modified adjusted gross income, and taxable income often sound interchangeable, but they serve very different roles in how your tax liability is calculated and how effective tax planning is structured. Understanding how these i...

Growth feels like progress, but when buyers evaluate a business, they are not looking for excitement… They are looking for predictability. Volatility and high growth often get justified as ambition from the inside, but uncertainty is the factor that ultimately erodes value. In this episode of Building Value, we dive into why consistent margins, repeat customers, and stable cash flow are the true p...

Jerry breaks down the 1929 market crash and the chain reaction that turned a major decline into a historic collapse. While modern markets can absolutely experience sharp drawdowns and recessions, Jerry explains why the same 1929-style cascade is extremely unlikely today due to stronger regulation, a more developed crisis-response playbook, broader diversification, and far tighter margin rules. Wha...

As we kick off a new year, Jerry Davidse, CEO of Presilium, shares the core principles that guide our investment decisions, especially when markets get noisy and volatile. This episode is a clear reminder that successful investing isn’t about predicting the next headline. It’s about having a goal-focused plan, staying diversified, and following a disciplined process that protects long-term compoun...

For many professionals at publicly traded companies, owning company stock can feel like a natural extension of pride and loyalty in the work you do. But when it comes to your 401K (often your largest long-term financial asset) adding company stock may introduce more risk than you realize. In this episode of Practical Cents , Cullen breaks down why concentrating too much of your retirement savings...

In this video, Jerry Davidse challenges the common investor desire to wait for market clarity before investing. He reveals why holding cash during uncertain times, while seemingly safe, can be one of the most expensive long-term mistakes. Jerry shows that the stock market anticipates future events and rewards consistent patience, not attempts to perfectly time the rebound. He emphasizes that the m...

In this episode, Brook introduces the Code Manager program at Presilium, a unique structural approach designed to revolutionize the way clients experience financial planning. We dive into why moving away from the "solo advisor" model toward a co-manager system is essential for providing long-term security. By integrating multiple advisors into every relationship, Presilium ensures that no client i...

Every year, Wall Street strategists release S&P 500 price targets predicting where the market will finish by year-end. These forecasts come from highly credentialed teams with massive research budgets and yet, they frequently miss by a wide margin. In this video, Jerry Davidse breaks down a table of Wall Street strategist forecasts vs. actual S&P 500 results going back to 2000 , showing ju...

If you’re a few years from retirement and your 401(k) has become your biggest financial asset, one question starts to matter a lot more: “Am I actually confident in how this money is invested?” In this episode, Cullen talks directly to near-retirees who saved diligently but haven’t consistently reviewed their 401(k) investment strategy… when there’s less time to recover from major mistakes. The bi...

Early success in businesses often relies on the owner being the exceptional "hero," closing the biggest deals and solving the hardest problems. However, this dependence on a single individual can eventually become the biggest limiter of enterprise value, creating uncertainty and concentration risk for potential buyers. In this episode of Building Value, we discuss how to shift from being essential...

Is today’s AI boom starting to feel like the dot-com era? In this episode, Jerry Davidse compares two “world-changing” moments: the launch of the modern internet (Netscape, December 1994) and the current AI surge that accelerated with ChatGPT in late 2022. Back then, markets delivered incredible gains… yet the path wasn’t smooth. Excitement turned into overconfidence, valuations stretched, and inv...

Market volatility isn’t a prediction for 2026… It’s a historical reality that appears every single year. Even in years that finish with strong returns, investors experience meaningful pullbacks along the way. In this episode, Jerry Davidse explains long-term S&P 500 data to show why declines are normal, what investors have historically endured to achieve long-term returns, and why preparation...

In this edition of The Big Question, Brook Hart delves into the complexities of RSU taxation for Merck and Big Pharma executives. Discover the tax implications before, during, and after vesting, and learn strategies to manage your tax bill effectively. Before Vesting: No tax impact as RSUs are considered phantom assets. During Vesting: Realize ordinary income based on the current share value. Afte...

Most business owners measure success the same way they did in year one: revenue . But when it comes to what your company is actually worth , buyers care far more about reliable cash flow and predictability than top-line sales. In this episode of Building Value , Brook breaks down why two companies can produce the same revenue and still have dramatically different enterprise values —and what you ca...

In this episode of The Big Question, Brook Hart delves into the confidence and optimism that guide us through market volatility. Discover the three key strategies that help us navigate downturns: preparation, modesty, and long-term investment in humankind. Join us as we explore how these principles shape our approach to investing and why they inspire excitement about the future. Key Points: Confid...

In this episode, Presilium explores a counterintuitive investment approach: the "worst investment strategy." We examine a 25-year study that compares this strategy to the more common practice of chasing recent top performers. The findings challenge conventional wisdom on how to potentially improve returns and decrease overall risk in your portfolio. Tune in to see how simple rebalancing can make a...

High earners often hit the 401(k) deferral limit early in the year—and then wonder: what’s next? In this episode, Cullen Martin, CFP® breaks down a powerful (and commonly missed) opportunity inside some employer retirement plans: after-tax 401(k) contributions that can be converted to Roth for long-term, tax-free growth (a strategy often called the Mega Backdoor Roth). If your plan allows it, this...

After three strong years in a row, I’m heading into 2026 with a more cautious stock market outlook— not pessimistic , just prepared. In this episode, I break down three data-driven reasons for caution and exactly how we think about rebalancing, volatility, and staying positioned for whatever the market delivers. In this video, you’ll learn: • Why the age of the current bull market matters • What h...