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To advise more effectively, financial advisors to the rich seek to develop a profound understanding of their clients’ attitudes toward money and life. But there is so much more than the amount of a client’s assets that can affect his or her attitudes, goals, and tolerance for risk. In this full research report and through the lens of risk tolerance, family office advisors can learn ways that will not only help improve their wealthy clients’ risk-adjusted investment returns, but their emotional security and happiness as well.

The innovation economy continues its record-breaking performance despite ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Venture fundraising, investment, and exits are all on pace to shatter last year’s records. Fundraising continues to tick up, buoyed by mega funds that are coming back to market quicker than ever. While the tech economy moves toward normalizing, valuations and multiples have reached new heights. It’s full steam ahead as the venture ecosystem remains vibrant.

Family offices can be complex, requiring forward thinking and collaboration on a variety of initiatives. Learn more about family office market trends that may impact your organization and key considerations to help you plan your strategy.

The big wealth transition is now underway, with ownership of more than 60% of family enterprise expected to be handed off within the next decade. With the input of business owners and Family Enterprise Advisors, this report takes an in-depth look at transition planning and how family business leaders can prepare their family, as well as their business, for this imminent transition of wealth, ownership and leadership.

As negotiations continue, the latest text of the proposed reconciliation bill, titled Build Back Better Act, is void of many of the prior proposed tax changes that would have upended estate planning.

The Biden administration’s American Families and other tax proposals may complicate the tax landscape for high-income owners. Given the real possibility of targeted tax increases on the wealthy and President Biden earmarking $80 million for IRS audit efforts, business owners and family offices should review their current situations to identify opportunities in which their overall federal and state tax liabilities could be minimized.

While the gift and estate tax exemption is scheduled to drop to approximately one-half the current amount of $11.7 million on January 1, 2026, there are tax proposals in play that could change the estate and gift tax laws much sooner. Uncertainty abounds, but planning options still exist through various trust instruments, including gifting to the next generation in trust and implementation of a SLAT—spousal lifetime access trust.

Drivers of the deal flow—from exits to succession planning to anticipated capital gains tax increases—are higher across the board, signaling a voracity for deals. At the same time, fund managers are moving faster to deal close but are seeing more risk exposure uncovered during due diligence, a major challenge to getting deals done. This Private Capital Pulse Survey examines the trends that 200 middle private market equity fund managers are seeing and the tactics they are deploying throughout the deal cycle.

The proposed Build Back America Act, a $1.85 trillion social-policy and climate framework, is working its way through Congress. While the notable prior proposals were absent, the current legislation proposes a new income tax surcharge that will be added on top of the ordinary and capital gains tax rates. The surcharge—which can bring the total surtax to 8% for certain groups—will also apply to trusts and estates and will impact high-earning individuals. Unless otherwise provided, all proposals are effective January 1, 2022.

Family offices anticipating a variety of tax law changes now have more details to consider. How would the tax law changes proposed by the House Ways & Means Committee affect family offices and wealthy families? Tax specialists examine the considerations, including the surcharge on high-income individuals, estates, and trusts that would be effective for years beginning after December 31, 2021.