Michigan recently passed an act that allows individuals to create Domestic Asset Protection Trusts ("DAPTs"), an attractive option to help people protect their assets from the claims of third party creditors. If the basic requirements of the newly adopted Michigan statute are satisfied, it also permits the trust settlor to retain certain powers and interests in the DAPT, including the right to receive distributions, while maintaining significant protection for the assets of the DAPT.
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The start of 2017 was a stark but welcomed contrast to the prior year. In January 2016, U.S. markets experienced one of their worst starts in history―hampered by concerns of slowing global growth, bottoming oil prices, and an impending election season. This January, these worries seemed far from investors’ minds. Domestic and international markets took economic and political news in stride, shrugging off uncertainty as most regions, asset classes, and sectors generated positive returns for the quarter.
As data continues to accumulate that reinforces the growing consensus of the superiority of passive indexing strategies over active management, the defenders of the old guard are fighting back. They are cutting fees, shuttering underperforming strategies, and merging businesses in order to reduce costs. The pressure is severe: according to Morningstar Inc., some $1.2 trillion has been withdrawn from actively managed U.S. stock funds since the start of 2007, while nearly the same amount has moved into passive U.S. stock funds over the same period.
The Trump administration has released its tax reform outline: the “2017 Tax Reform for Economic Growth and American Jobs.” Although it doesn’t include specific proposals like the border adjustment tax, it does call for a “territorial tax system to level the playing field for American businesses,” as well as significant tax cuts and simplification. In a high-level overview of the 2017 Tax Reform Outline, learn more about the impact of each proposal.
When the only tie that binds a family together is sharing business ownership, chances are the Family Enterprise will struggle to remain family-owned and intact for successive generations. However, when the family and the Family Enterprise are mutually supportive, the opportunity for sustainability is greatly enhanced. By taking a family-centric approach and applying a “Family Accord” framework—one that is based on structure, communication, and consensus—families can enjoy far greater odds of long-term success with their Family Enterprise.
Home invasion. Carjacking. Stalking threats. Road rage. And now, cyberbullying. These unthinkable crimes can happen every day and almost anywhere in the world. In the unfortunate event that these crimes can happen to you or a family member, there can be peace of mind from having a family protection coverage to help deal with the long and painful aftermath. View the video below to learn more about family protection coverage.
The potential value of a high net worth victim to a cyber-criminal and the uniquely complex lives of the high net worth, place them at higher risk of cybercrime. Trusted employees or third parties help care for their children, manage their finances, maintain their homes, automobiles and valuable collections, and more. Each of these connections creates potential for exposure and increases the ‘attack surface’ for a cyber adversary to focus on.
One of the most common concerns families have revolves around how to share wealth with family members without encouraging entitlement. With forethought and care, giving well and wisely can bring families together and strengthen the bonds between generations. The steps to giving wisely—and fostering flourishing over entitlement—include clarifying your intentions, understanding your recipients, communicating more rather than less, and letting go of what you cannot control.
Cyber threat is as old as the internet itself. While some attacks are politically motivated, the majority are carried out for financial gain. The potential profit to be made with someone’s personal information, particularly if the individual is of high net worth, is great—in fact, it’s a more lucrative industry than the illegal drug trade and the criminal has a lower risk of getting caught.
The economy is relatively healthy, but history has taught us that growth cycles don’t last forever. It’s not if there will be an economic downturn—it’s when. Knowing that there’s a cyclical pattern to many markets, savvy owners and executives figure out how to take advantage of business cycles to create a continuing growth trajectory and boost profitability. From that strategic planning point, five action items are critical to middle-market companies for maximizing growth, profitability, and value—in any economy.