Transferring more than material wealth has become increasingly important in today’s world. Ethical wills are a key tools that enable you to transmit your values to the next generation with peace of mind. These kinds of wills may include your personal beliefs and philosophy, and even important family history.
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Individuals and families considering a business sale typically face a daunting intersection of planning issues. These may include deal structure decisions, legal and regulatory considerations, income tax minimization, capital- sufficiency analysis, wealth transfer and philanthropic goals. As a deal approaches the closing stage, an owner’s attention will be focused on getting the deal done—and rightly so. Yet, it is equally important that business owners not lose sight of the impact a company sale will have upon their personal wealth profile.
Challenging conventional thinking: Investors are typically taught that diversification of portfolio assets is the prudent approach to preserving and growing wealth. Yet the majority of the families we serve appreciate that this tenet doesn’t necessarily apply at the advisory level. In other words, diversifying across multiple advisors without integrating their strategies may result in unintended consequences. This article explains those consequences and how it can hinder your investment strategy.
Modern medicine has enabled far longer lifespans than ever before. While this is an overall positive development, it also means that many of us will spend years as a caregiver of parents and aging loved ones or as a recipient of that care. Whether your family is facing this situation in the short or long term, and whether you are in the role of caregiver or receiver, this resource guide is useful in identifying the resources and expertise to assist you and your family.
Impact investing has become a popular topic of discussion, not only with the mainstream media but also with mainstream investors. Yet while impact investing has entered the mainstream mindset, many investors with the enthusiasm and means to engage meaningfully in impact investing lack the informational resources to do so. For most investors today, impact investing still needs to be translated from a compelling concept into a sound strategy. This situation is especially true for family offices.
Market volatility can serve as a reminder of what investors can and can’t control. What is information, and what is noise? What is predictive of the future, and what is just the past? Long-term investors should focus on what they can control and stay the course – provided they are on the “best” course.
With cyber theft often in the headlines, it might seem as though it’s not a question of whether your personal information will be compromised, but when. For example, you have likely seen CNN’s estimates that over 100 million Americans have had their personal information stolen and exposed over a one year period. This may leave you wondering, “How safe is my money?” While the question seems straightforward, the answer is complicated because it varies based on the answers to several questions. How did the breach take place? What information was compromised?
One of the most common wealth transfer and estate planning techniques is to use an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) to own life insurance policies. This structure enables individuals and families to direct the transfer of assets in a tax-efficient manner from one generation to another for the benefit of the trust’s beneficiaries.
Family businesses face unique and often unanticipated challenges transitioning from one generation to the next. The struggle to maintain and protect both family interests and business interests is intricate and complex, with some businesses falling prey to changing environments and deteriorating opportunity amid generational succession.
The protracted wrangling over deficit reduction and tax codes in Washington in recent years has raised concerns about the negative impact on charitable giving. Would the elimination of tax deductions act as a disincentive for the wealthy to give, possibly crippling the nonprofit sector?