In 2013, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), a nonprofit group of reporters, shattered the long-held view that offshore bank secrecy was impenetrable. The group had received massive leaks detailing individual offshore bank accounts, which they shared with the public on their website. This was the first of hundreds...
The sharp drop in oil prices may have provided a powerful boost to global consumption, but economists are concerned that on a global scale, especially in the Eurozone, that the effects of low inflation might continue in the long-term.The research article provides a deflation risk index that distinguishes countries where external disinflationary eff...
This report provides a historical review of past economic conditions for 2013 and 2014, and illustrates what might be in store for investors in 2015 by asking five key questions. Those questions include: Will US equities continue to outperform? Is the macro environment in Europe getting worse? What impact will diverging monetary policy have o...
Micro cap stocks are among the investment world’s worst-kept secrets. They have been around as an asset class category since the 1980s, and research has repeatedly confirmed the ad­vantages they offer to investors – most notably a chance to exploit numerous opportunities for greater excess returns.Micro caps’ size and role in ...
Having an entrepreneurial culture can help nurture a family legacy by providing pathways for family members to invest in new enterprises and regularly recharge the wealth for future generations. Although it may be challenging to re-energize a family, a dynamic culture of growth can flourish within a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. A family inte...
The American Tax Payer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) was passed on New Year’s Day 2013, and established the first permanentset of estate, gift and generation skipping transfer (GST) tax provisions in 12 years. Each year, the administration puts forth tax proposals that may change the current law. This article provides a quick summary of sev...
The Swiss National Bank removed the EUR/CHF 1.20 floor on January 15, 2015, which had been in place since September 2011, while cutting further the 3-month interest rate target (to between -1.25% and -0.25%). This research paper provides analysis into the potential outcomes of this move by the SNB to the Swiss economy, and illustrates the def...
There are a lot of questions surrounding whether snowbirds and others can shift his or her residency to a lower or no tax state such as Florida, Nevada or Texas, while still maintaining a home in Illinois. However, in light of Illinois’ current economic state and future debt obligations, it is hard for many Illinois residents and businesses n...
When does the state lack authority to tax a “resident trust” on out-of-state income? In this report, McGladrey discusses a number of strategies that advisers should consider in order to minimize the state-level tax liability for a trust by moving it to a more taxpayer-friendly jurisdiction. The article provides case studies dating back ...
Today’s philanthropists want to channel their desire to “do something” into purposeful and strategic action. Donors frequently want to create or invest in the people and programs that can make a measurable difference. However, for many of us, it may be difficult to know where to begin. Philanthropic endeavors are often rooted in t...
Addiction concerns in family businesses raise unique and complex challenges for the advisor, family office and corporate leadership. This article provides an overview of the many policy and procedural issues all stakeholders face when it comes to addressing substance use, with an emphasis on family held entities.Some of the topics include:Incidence...
Forging a close relationship among siblings during childhood is hard enough, but as siblings become adults, the development of disparities in wealth can challenge even the strongest relationships. In business-owning families, the potential ramifications not only affect the personal lives of the immediate family, it can also disrupt the alignment of...
Since their introduction only two decades ago, Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have been undeniably successful. Growing far beyond their initial function of tracking large liquid indices in developed markets, ETFs now hold over $2.6 trillion of assets globally. In fact, the proliferation of ETFs was identified as one of the six game change...
Some years make indelible stamps on our consciousness for memorable market trends or events, good or bad. Investors’ conversations are dotted with references to 1987 (Black Monday Crash), 1999 (tech stocks through the roof), 2000 (dot-com bubble bursts), 2008 (financial crisis) and 2009 (bounce back off the bottom) that need little or n...
Using a New Hampshire trust, a settlor can eliminate a trustee’s reporting and disclosure requirements if he or she wishes to withhold knowledge of the trust’s existence, its terms, or the details of its holdings. Many settlors are turning to New Hampshire to create “quiet” or “silent” trusts under which the trus...