As more and more investors look to implement impact investment strategies, interesting questions are being raised in the context of impact investing by fiduciaries appointed to administer a trust for beneficiaries. Suppose the beneficiary of a multi-generational, non-charitable trust is interested in integrating her values in a trust established for her benefit. How should a trustee determine if the request is consistent with the trustee’s duties under the Prudent Investor Rule?
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Lawmakers are well aware of the significant contributions to economic and job growth made by small businesses. As a direct incentive for starting and investing in small businesses, Congress has provided varying levels of beneficial treatment in the tax code for Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) since 1993. With the recent tax laws, including the reduction of the C Corporation tax rate to a flat 21%, it has made C Corporation status and QSBS treatment more attractive.
There is a growing desire to combat money laundering as part of the ongoing worldwide efforts against terrorism, and a crackdown on tax evasion has been recognized as one way to satisfy the urgent need for more government revenue. These dual motivations have led to the extension and enactment of new reporting standards regarding foreign financial assets.
In the absence of proper planning, the death of an owner of a closely held business may lead to an estate tax liability that can devastate the business, even with the increased federal estate and gift tax exemption under the 2017 tax legislation.
The traditional nuclear family is no longer the presumption. With multiple demographic trends including samesex marriages, blended families, and cohabitation alongside different paths to parenthood, including adoption and assisted reproductive technologies, there are numerous estate planning challenges that ultra-high net worth families and their advisors must now consider. Advisors must become familiar with the needs and nuances that are unique to modern family members, structures, and dynamics.
It has been over a year since the 2017 Tax Act brought a multitude of changes to the tax code. As families continue to learn about the impact of the new law on their future, advisors await further guidance from the treasury department while simultaneously evaluating the challenges and opportunities presented by the changes for their clients.
If you are a global family and are considering an investment in the United States, you may have questions about the U.S. tax rules. Through a series of 10 key questions, answers are provided to help the non-U.S. individual investor better understand the U.S. tax system. Other takeaways, including reporting obligations and privacy concerns, may help mitigate the unintended application of U.S. tax.
Talking about wealth is every bit as important as creating a technical wealth plan—if not more so. Preparing a wealth transfer plan without helping your loved ones understand how to manage those assets in their own lives leaves the true process of sharing wealth incomplete and subject to real, but avoidable, risks. In this guide, you’ll find ways to have productive conversations that give your loved ones a clear understanding of what financial assets they will receive and how to manage them well.
On June 21, 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a unanimous opinion finding that North Carolina’s imposition of an income tax on trusts based solely on the residence of a trust’s beneficiaries is unconstitutional. While Kaestner 1992 Family Trust presents an obvious win for taxpayers, its application beyond the state of North Carolina could be limited.
2018 brought radical transformation in the federal tax landscape. The effects continue to cascade through the economy, and individuals, families and businesses are striving to find equilibrium amid the change. Of course, radical transformations can occur at the individual level as well. A good wealth plan anticipates personal disruptions, transitions and surprises. From this context, this annual outlook highlights six salient themes.