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In the past, when analyzing whether a client should make taxable gifts, estate planners tended to simply rely on comparing the transfer tax cost of making such gifts with those made at death. Paying the gift tax was assumed to be “cheaper” than paying estate tax, even though the rate was the same, because gift taxes are calculated on a ...

The Russian Ruble has collapsed. Its economy appears to be headed into a recession. Oil prices have plunged. The US Dollar (USD) has surged. Emerging markets debt has grown significantly since the “Great Recession.” Are we on the verge of a repeat of 1997 and 1998 when we saw a surge of defaults by the countries collectively called...

Families experience significant and sometimes difficult changes over the years as elders pass on and new family members grow into leadership roles. What worked for a two-generation family with five members may not work when the family reaches the fourth generation and now involves multiple households with varying wealth structures.The word “c...

According to a Norwegian linguist, the Sami people living in northern Russia and Scandinavia have 180 words for snow and ice. It seems that there are nearly as many terms for investment strategies designed specifically for societal impact. A few of the terms being used today include: “socially responsible investing,” “ESG in...

Altantic Trust Private Wealth Management provides insight into the financial markets in its Economic and Investment Overview for the second quarter of 2014, some highlights include:- Economy: Mostly good newsU.S.: Q1 likely weakest quarter of the year. 3% real GDP growth expected for full year.- Policy: Fed action unfolding as expectedFed policy re...

In this market forecast, Atlantic Trust discusses presents the issues that will have the most impact on the financial markets over the next 12 months, including: The EconomyU.S. is posting impressive growth as the expansion broadens.Many other countries are struggling with too little growth, too much inflation or both.The collapse in oil pri...

This thoughtful paper provides a historical perspective of the Hedge Fund markets performance in varying economic clients and relates what has been learned in the past to the current market conditions since the Recession of 2008.

This paper discusses the current global market conditions and provides insight into the best approach to navigating the current volatile market, while identifying the latest market movers and shakers, and assessing the next move for investors in the equities, currencies, fixed income and oil markets.

The 2008 US Credit Crisis that resulted in the European Banking and Sovereign Crisis exposed major weaknesses in banking regulation and oversight. The reaction from policymakers and market participants set about sweeping reforms that will permanently alter the system as we know it. This paper discusses the massive regulatory change that will create...

No one is comfortable discussing the day of their funeral, but taking control of that inevitable conversation and organizing a principal’s final wishes is simply the right thing to do for their family, their legacy and their enterprise. Making arrangements after the loss or, preferably, preparing an end-of-life plan in advance, involves some ...

Family businesses are an essential source of prosperity and stability to both our global economy and our society. The characteristics and practices of large, long-lived family businesses serve not only as a model for other family businesses but also for all companies that aspire to maintain an entrepreneurial spirit, innovate and maintain growth. T...

Following a six-year U.S. economic recovery driven primarily by low interest rates and quantitative easing, the Federal Reserve is now constructing a plan to raise rates. At the heart of its reasoning is the concern that such low interest rates have the potential to distort economic and market conditions, fostering an unstable environment. The late...

Life insurance can play an important role in helping achieve the legacy and financial objectives of an individual or family—especially those with significant taxable estates and illiquid assets such as privately held businesses and real estate. For those who have assets that exceed the federal estate tax-exemption thresholds—$5,430,000 ...

The efficient markets hypothesis says that financial markets incorporate all available information in real time to price securities competitively, eliminating opportunities to earn excess return. The Nobel Committee split its 2013 prize for Economic Sciences between proponents of both sides of the market efficiency debate. For investment practition...

There are no easy answers when it comes to prenuptial agreements, but understanding the fundamentals will help ensure that the agreement is ultimately fair to all parties, achieves the family’s objectives, and will withstand any future challenge. This article provides tips, advice and a number of options when it comes to setting up a pr...