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The robust steps taken by the Federal Reserve to shore up the front end of the money markets are essential to the free flow of capital and global economic stability. Whether the Fed will bring back some of its financial crisis-liquidity and lending facilities to address the escalating Coronavirus crisis in the financial system, the bottom line is that well-functioning money markets are necessary for commercial activity.

Families often find it challenging to talk about long-term plans and wishes of their aging parents. But it’s never a good idea to wait until there’s a crisis to rally family members together on a plan that will address mom or dad’s needs and wishes regarding healthcare, living arrangements, and long-term financial care. Knowing how to get the conversation started and having helpful resources available can make the process an easier transition.

Governance is a word often misunderstood by families and family offices, but it is essential for a long-lasting family legacy. Strong governance establishes a process for decision-making and conformity within a multi-generational family to promote communication and strengthen unity, helping to preserve wealth and solidarity for future generations. Although high-net-worth families and individuals increasingly recognize the importance of instituting formal governance structures, doing so presents a complex task, and it can be difficult to know where to start.

In a world of low expected returns, finding alpha becomes more important than ever. Given the significant amount of capital looking for alpha in private markets, family offices will need to bridge the performance gap in this slower growth environment by leveraging their longer time horizon and partnering with experts in private market investments. Alpha, while elusive, can be found if one knows where to look.

Insurance is designed to protect essential aspects of your lives from financial loss, but there can also be ramifications to filing claims. These changes are usually noticed on the renewal immediately following the claim in the form of increased premiums, which can spur regret for using your policy in the first place. Claim surcharges can follow you for three years or more. You can avoid an insurance surcharge by considering a few things before a loss occurs.

In a time of equity market volatility, municipal bonds are doing what they’re supposed to do: diversify portfolios. Learn what may come next in the muni market.

As covered in the first part of the SECURE Act series, one of the key provisions of the Act is the partial elimination of the “stretch” or “life expectancy payout” for beneficiaries of retirement plans. In this second part in the series, a closer look is taken to see how that may affect your estate planning and the updates that may be needed.

To adapt to the unprecedented pace of change across the tax landscape, companies must focus on embracing a total tax liability mindset—a holistic understanding of the sum of all taxes across the entirety of the organization. Once viewed as a compliance-driven, back-office function, effective tax planning is now crucial to business performance and strategic decision-making. The tax professional of the next decade must take on the role of strategic leader.

From a historical perspective, the odds for a strong volatility risk premium (the "VRP") in 2020 are in your favor. Although it can't be predicted with any level of certainty the returns derived from exposure to the VRP this year, the range of likely outcomes can be determined based on empirical evidence while respecting known and unknown sources of uncertainty. If you're willing to wait and see, history suggests you'll be compensated.

The SECURE Act was recently signed into law in the U.S. It was a landmark legislation that may affect how you plan for retirement. Most of the provisions went into effect in 2020, which means now is the time to consider how these new rules affect your estate and tax planning. For the second part to this series, see How the SECURE Act May Affect Your Estate Plan.