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The results of the U.S. Family Business Survey findings brought out the importance of being prepared to compete in a far more digital economy. Family businesses have built up trust among loyal employees and their ownership group. So how to turn values like loyalty and hard work into a multi-generational success story?

An increasing problem facing employers is the threat of class action lawsuits related to their use of background checks. In these lawsuits, plaintiffs claim that employers are violating a federal statute called the Fair Credit Reporting Act (the “FCRA”), which regulates, among other things, an employer’s use of background checks performed by third-party providers. In the face of this potential exposure, it is extremely important that employers ensure they are complying with the FCRA’s notice and disclosure requirements.

At the start of 2019, the market’s perception of risks and the resulting volatility is high, a stark contrast to the complacency and strong growth expectations in the prior year. It is important to reflect on recent history, but it is also important to recognize how expectations can change and stay grounded in a broad understanding of the business environment and market valuations—thus our themes as outlined in this Market Insights: the late stage expansion; the not-so-invisible hand; diversification fatigue; and not all international markets are equal.

People, by nature, are born to judge and make judgments about others as well as themselves. Understanding each other through Real Colors® and knowing what makes each other tick regardless of, and separate from, each person’s relationship with the family of wealth or the family business, is eye opening for families. Real Colors® is a “rite of passage” for accepting others for who they really are and it provides a means for making critical family decisions (including financial decisions).

For families of wealth, especially those with a goal of long-term wealth preservation, the potential value of Real Colors® is multidimensional. It offers a language of understanding that aims to improve communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. It may also provide insight into making asset allocation decisions to help maximize the family’s long-term financial capital requirements.

There are three reasons why investors should be considering preferreds in a rising rates environment: its low duration structures, its wide credit spreads, and its high levels of income. In this video, Brian Cordes, discusses the reasons and highlights how preferreds can also offer some of the highest tax advantage income in the markets today.

Despite mounting cost pressures on their supply chains, just a fraction of middle market companies appear to be hedging commodity prices for the longer term. In this issue of The Real Economy, we examine that topic, as well as a government shutdown’s fallout on food stamp program funding, real GDP growth projections, and the current state of environmental, social and corporate governance practices, benefits, and reporting challenges.

Taxpayers who have identified opportunities to take advantage of the increased gift tax exemption before 2026, but have been hesitant to do so because of the risk of clawback, now find themselves on firmer ground for moving forward with those plans. However, with all of the ways and means of using the exemption, what should they do ... and why? We consider some ways and means of using it.

With the emergence of "new and improved" non-traded REITs (NTRs), some investors have shrugged off the industry's checkered past, seeing NTRs as a less volatile alternative to listed REITs. However, investors may not realize they are paying higher fees for lower return potential, along with less liquidity, less diversification, and less pricing transparency. Here is a look at some of the lesser-known aspects of NTRs and how they stack up against listed REITs.

In this year’s global CEO survey, the prevailing sentiment is one of caution in the face of increasing uncertainty. Unlike the past year, CEOs are less bothered by the broad, existential threats like terrorism and climate change, and are more ‘extremely concerned' about factors that affect the ease of doing business in the markets where they operate.