Choosing a trustee is a major decision—one that may impact you and your family in many ways for generations to come. Essentially, when you establish a trust for the benefit of others, you are handing down your values through the terms of the trust and your contributed financial assets. And with an increasing number of trusts lasting for multiple generations—and even into perpetuity in some states—it’s important to understand the role of a trustee, how to select a trustee, and the advantages to naming both a corporate trustee and an individual trustee.
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For every business, risk management is a critical component of business resilience, profitability, and success. In 2023, there are some signs of insurance market stability and rate moderation. Businesses with a preferred risk profile will be in the strongest position to get the best rates and terms. The same can be said for individuals in the personal lines and private client space.
For the families that are reevaluating and modifying their fiduciary structures, this reference summary of state laws is provided for consideration when establishing wealth transfer plans and structures, including taxation, trust laws, asset protection, and regulated and unregulated private trust companies. This updated summary includes a broader aggregation of top U.S. trust jurisdictions, covering Wyoming, Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Tennessee.
All parents have reasons for why they do or do not share their wealth with their children, and neither option is without challenges. The key for parents is to find the balance between sharing everything and sharing nothing while also passing along the skills required to ensure their children become responsible inheritors and/or beneficiaries. Here are some best practices for striking that balance without losing the opportunities that come with significant wealth.
While the banking stress has largely subsided after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, there’s expectations of uneven trajectories of economic growth and inflation that will continue to drive market volatility. Learn what this will mean for asset allocation in this Investment Perspective.
Leaders of founder-owned businesses likely know that the buyer universe essentially breaks down into two main categories—strategic buyers, who focus on synergies and operational integration, and financial sponsors, who emphasize cash flow generation and growth potential in the underlying market. For any founder-owner looking for an optimal outcome in a liquidity event, it’s a good idea to know your audience and its motives.
Bank failures, tighter monetary policy, and rising fear of a “hard landing” have heightened economic uncertainty. Despite these challenges, inflation is subsiding, consumer spending is stable, and the labor market remains strong. In light of the market turbulence, investors are reacting to any news, positive or negative, in search of clarity about the future.
By now, most organizations have implemented mandatory annual cyber awareness training for their employees, covering topics such as phishing and social engineering attacks. While this education is thwarting cybercrime, it is only part of robust defense strategy. In looking back at the state of cyber in 2022 and highlighting important developments, we also look ahead at what is next in building cyber resilience that will require additional defensive measures and documentation.
Wealthy families often take every precaution in preserving their legacies for future generations, with carefully constructed estate plans, wills, and trusts. But they often overlook the hidden factor that can undermine all these plans, and it isn’t investment returns or poor estate planning: It’s family dynamics. Studies have shown that the main reasons wealth fails to transition successfully across generations have little to do with making sound financial decisions—and much more to do with how the family interacts with each other.
Sustainability is now a business imperative across the world, as much as it is a stewardship one, and those companies that fail to adapt may struggle to compete in a new, low-carbon environment. Fortunately, for many family businesses, the drive for sustainability is already a road well-traveled. Their experiences and the progress they’re making on the road to sustainability are instructive and an inspiration for leaders and organizations of every type to follow.