The Tax Relief Act forestalled tax increases for this year, but the future tax environment remains uncertain. Investors need to optimize current tax breaks while considering the impact of potential tax increases on everything from broad wealth management strategies to leveraging debt for tax efficiency.
Because certain tax rules are only in place through 2012, flexibility in estate planning documents is important to make sure that your executor can adapt your plan to changing circumstances. And because these changes only apply to federal estate tax, the impact of state estate taxation should be included in your planning.
Behavioral finance theory offers some compelling explanations for financial crises, including the most recent one. Supplementing standard finance theory with behavioral and psychological criteria can help clarify investors' decision-making processes and explain the influence of behavioral biases in stock market crashes.
There is a risk, in a time of prolonged economic uncertainty, that you become blinded to the pitfalls ahead. U.S./China trade tensions have now been ramping up for over a year, and other geopolitical tensions for even longer (Brexit for over three). But while we have suffered bouts of volatility, markets have not fallen into a more prolonged period...
Successfully transitioning family assets from generation to generation is hard work. And for many families, talking about money or family wealth can be awkward and uncomfortable, or simply delayed, which hinders younger generations from absorbing the critical information and know-how that is necessary for a smooth transfer of wealth and responsibil...
Every state has its own set of rules for assessing income tax against a trust. In some situations, a trust might be required to file tax returns in three or more separate states. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court decided a case that addresses how a state may tax a particular trust. We take a closer look at that decision and how it impacts state taxa...
In this Executive Summary of the Trends 2020 survey report, conducted by the National Center for Family Philanthropy, it shares the updated trends on the governance and management practices of U.S. family foundations, and includes new questions relevant to ongoing changes in the field including issues of equity, place-based giving, transparenc...
Dr. Alexander Koeberle-Schmid, family business expert at PwC, has helped more than 100 entrepreneurial families from around the world navigate the complexities of communal investing. In this episode of The Family Business Voice podcast, Koeberle-Schmid speaks to Ramia M. El Agamy about the three fundamental requirements of a family office and the f...
Being part of a business that either bears your name or was started by your family is a privilege that comes with huge responsibility. This is particularly true at a time when technology is disrupting all sectors. Digital transformation isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. All companies will need agents of change and that is clear fro...
Americans frequently view economic conditions through a political lens. However, markets are driven by fundamentals over long periods of time, not politicians. Investors should be cautious about letting their political biases impact their investment decisions. Modifying investment portfolios based on political views can be hazardous to returns.
With the new year around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what you can do now to manage your tax bill for 2019. To help you get started and avoid last-minute scrambling for tax deductions, there are five topics you should discuss with your tax advisor: capital gain opportunities; capital loss opportunities; making your K-1 a...
As taxpayers head into the homestretch of 2019, some might be surprised that most of the year-end tax highlights for businesses refer to provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in late 2017. It makes sense, though, when considering that the IRS has released a host of regulations and other guidance interpreting many of the new rules. Moving ...
A discussion on BKD's “Simply Tax” podcast on the importance of year-end planning. Guests Holly Pantzer and Susan Jones join host Damien Martin for a closer look at key considerations for individuals following the recent tax law changes as they share their firsthand experiences from recent year-end planning discussions. Here's a...
Now that passive index investing has overtaken active management, learn why this might not be as scary for the industry as it may seem.
Many states are imposing a millionaire’s tax with huge implications for top earners. Explore how aggressive tax-loss harvesting can soften the blow.