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With the longest economic expansion on record currently underway in the United States, it is hard to imagine that capital markets and investments were in utter disarray a little over ten years ago. Or that technology stocks—the darling of equity markets today—took a severe beating two decades back. We believe that when the going is good...

A Life insurance audit is an everything-to-gain, nothing-to-lose proposition for a trustee of a trust that owns life insurance where significant planning is in place. A proper, thorough audit is needed to mitigate the fiduciary liability. It also starts with understanding the difference between a Life Insurance Review and a Life Insurance Audit.&nb...

For multi-generational families, designing the right second home is often a series of "both/and" propositions. A home needs to be both a reflection of self, while also foreseeing the needs of generations to come. It needs to feel cozy and intimate for weekend getaways, while also welcoming large gatherings. Most of all, it needs to unders...

On September 11, 2019, the California Senate passed Assembly Bill 5, which California Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign. The law will have major implications on the so-called “gig economy” workers, potentially leading to many being reclassified as employees rather than independent contractors. This article addresses questions bu...

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law several amendments to the Illinois Equal Pay Act that are certain to have wide-ranging impacts. Most significantly, Illinois will join the growing number of states that prohibit employers from asking about or considering a job applicant’s prior salary history when making hiring decisions. The am...

The complex, convergent nature of risks facing high-net-worth families requires family offices to adopt both a holistic and strategic approach to risk management than many have in the past. The ones who can make the change will be best positioned to successfully navigate the challenges that range from overarching trends of growing families to incre...

Wealthy individuals and family offices are increasingly looking to direct investments to enhance their returns. Other significant incentives for choosing direct investing include the elimination of management fees charged by investment firms. They can also serve as a vehicle to align investments more closely with the values and mindset of the inves...

Under the current Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), a wide range of income tax planning techniques can be used as part of the estate planning process. One primary technique includes a focus on managing low-basis assets to achieve a step-up basis. Other techniques center around the beneficiary deemed owned trust. While more than one technique can be use...

For two months, a financial services firm in New Zealand cut its workweek to four eight-hour days but paid for five days—and invited university researchers to study the impact on performance. Very quickly, the results became clear: workers showed up on time and creativity burgeoned. Productivity rose 20 percent. The policy became permanent. T...

Every year, shareholders vote to appoint or reappoint boards to act on their behalf to ensure the company maximizes shareholder value. And enlightened boards are not waiting for activists but instead are pushing the “reset” button and reflecting on questions like “What are the characteristics of a high-performing board”? and...

Many organizations are realizing that HR executives’ mandate extends beyond figuring out the firm’s health insurance and writing the employee handbook. They are key to creating a positive work culture and attracting (and keeping) talented employees—all essential to the success of any enterprise. In the world of human resources, Mi...

High performing CFOs in financial services organizations integrate data-driven decision-making activities across the entire company, changing the role of finance from back-room financial reporters into forward-thinking analysts and trusted advisors. This infographic shows how they do it and how you can too.

Every new leader faces challenges. But for those who are breaking barriers within nonprofits or family foundations, the challenges are even more pronounced. The new leaders must find their footing and navigate cultures that either overtly or subtly remind them that they are different, whether they are the first person of color, first woman, or firs...

In offices around the world Millennials are rapidly becoming managers and even senior executives. Some assistance from their employers could help, but at least right now, many organizations don’t prioritize grooming millennials as leaders. To some degree, the shift has caught many off guard. At the end of the day, the millions of millennials ...

Organizations that want to develop or retain a competitive advantage should create a diverse and inclusive environment where all can thrive. This means addressing both the company-wide structural and behavioral issues that may be preventing people from achieving their full potential. It also means taking on an approach involving six choices and see...