Most of us are familiar with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as the headline measure of inflation. However, at the January 2012 Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed declared it would use the Personal Consumption Expenditure price index (PCE). Since the indexes are calculated differently in weight, scope, and formula, it will yield different measures of inflation. The difference will impact how investors plan to fight the rising inflation that is spurring fears of currency devaluation.
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Real estate can play an important role in diversified portfolios by acting as a hedge against rising prices. However, like other income producing asset classes, rising interest rates can put downward pressure on real estate valuations. Can real estate offer investors inflation protection if the Federal Reserve continues to raise rates to combat higher prices?
Unlike trustees, who have very specific fiduciary duties spelled out for them in our trust laws, beneficiaries don’t have much guidance to help them in the role of beneficiary. Our answers to these frequently asked questions should help provide guidance on how to be a good beneficiary and your rights as a beneficiary under Michigan law.
Establishing residency in a state with lower tax rates can result in significant tax savings for some individuals and trusts. But changing residency is not as straightforward as it might seem. Additionally, states have become aggressive in challenging residency changes to avoid losing out on tax revenue. This paper reviews the residency rules for individuals, identifies steps to establish new residency, and addresses residency audits. It also provides an overview of the residency rules for trusts.
Against the global macroeconomic backdrop, there are pockets of investment opportunities—in particular, metal exporters in the frontier markets space. That's because regulation and consumer preferences are creating demand for clean transportation, which will drive strong growth in the metals of the future: copper, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, and lithium. This could bolster the outlook for commodity exporters, and could also improve the prospects for markets with burgeoning mining investments.
When selling a business, owners often focus on closing the deal. An additional focus on personal wealth planning opportunities could result in significant savings on income, gift, and estate taxes. This planning checklist outlines the key factors to consider.
The New Inflation Reduction Act (the "IRA") was passed with a simple majority vote in the U.S. The IRA would raise approximately $450 billion to pay for deficit reduction, clean energy, and climate investments.
The college admissions world is constantly changing. In this webcast, Lindsay and Olivia of LogicPrep discuss recent admissions trends, the different types of test-optional policies, and what parts of your application matter most to colleges right now.
Whether the goal is to improve a local community or support a more far-reaching cause, charitable giving is an important goal for many investors. From donating cash to establishing a donor-advised fund or a private foundation, there are a variety of ways to support the causes that matter to you. If deciding between establishing a donor-advised fund or a private foundation, high-level guidelines and a comparison table are provided to help you choose the best vehicle for you.
On August 24, 2022, the California Attorney announced a settlement with Sephora, Inc. that included a fine of $1.2 million for alleged violations of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The settlement is important because it makes clear that the use of analytics, advertising cookies, and other automatic data collection technologies are a "sale" under the CCPA. Businesses that are subject to the CCPA (and the upcoming CPRA) should immediately review their CCPA compliance to minimize being a potential target of further enforcement actions.