As the surge of interest in creating a more just and equal economic system gathers force and begins to translate into real action, so do its detractors. From an investment perspective, the source of tension tends to occur when it links gender and racial diversity to financial performance. But there’s more to the discussion when it comes to building a more inclusive world, including the value it holds for investors who want to use their portfolios to move equity of opportunity forward.
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Given the rhetoric and possible need for additional tax revenue in the U.S., families of wealth and their advisors should be aware of the future possibility of the wealth tax particularly when doing their estate planning. They should also consider how trusts might be affected by a wealth tax, including the use of a discretionary trust that can be grandfathered to avoid the wealth tax if established prior to its enactment.
The Millennials are projected to number 73 million, overtaking Baby Boomers as the largest adult segment of the U.S. population. They have different concerns and opinions than their parents, and many existing trusts may not be drafted to best accommodate Millennial beneficiaries and their desires. In most instances, traditional trust structures may not be sufficient. Generally, modern directed trusts are best suited for all generations, and it allows a Millennial beneficiary to play a key role regarding both trust distributions and investments.
Municipal bond yields have finally begun to move higher. The surge is a natural and healthy development—reflective of an improving economic landscape but not a marked upshift in inflation. In this environment, see where muni investors can find opportunity and capitalize.
The big question in the estate planning world today is whether, when, and to what extent the U.S. Congress will enact changes to gift, estate, and income tax laws. With many challenges facing the new Biden Administration, and the narrowly Democratic Senate, major tax legislation may not even be considered in 2021. Nevertheless, the tax proposals endorsed by the Biden Administration provide clear signals for actions clients should consider this year.
At some point in a business relationship, differences of opinion are likely to arise. In businesses where there are equal owners of the company or in a 50/50 business, it is important to ensure that there are carefully drafted governing documents that detail the process for resolving a conflict or impasse. Learn the common mechanisms for resolving such standoffs and give careful consideration when drafting dispute resolution or divorce provision.
When a ransomware attack happens, it forces many organizations to make a difficult choice—pay the ransom or experience prolonged business or data loss. But there is also another complication for organizations to consider—the government regulators warning companies that payments made to ransomware attackers may constitute violations of U.S. sanctions. Further complicating matters is the move by many organizations to cloud storage. When moving data to the cloud, an organization still retains liability for that data in the eyes of the law.
Needing to meet the challenges of tax compliance for investment partnerships, chief financial officers are demanding more timely tax and financial reporting, along with the need to report and respond to investors with speed and accuracy. Partnership tax technology allows funds to meet those demands, especially in the case of private equity and hedge funds. The automation of tax compliance using a technology platform will offer advantages such as providing transparency for investors, simplifying complex allocations, and allowing a deep enough simplification to fund entity tiering.
Just because a small business or startup makes it beyond its initial launch phase and sees some early commercial success doesn’t mean its challenges are over. In this podcast, learn about three important topics—including key metrics in the early growth stages—for business leaders buying into startups, creating value over time, and what happens when you’re ready to get out.
Many are rethinking their asset allocations beyond traditional asset classes and are seeking new and creative ways to better diversify their investment portfolios, increase returns, and reduce risk. Turning to alternative investments—with a focus on private investment funds—see what you should know and consider when choosing to add them in the mix of your investment portfolios and asset allocation. There are pros and cons, and being well-informed is critical to making better investment decisions.