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Proposed regulations covering the valuation of family controlled entities for transfer tax purposes—12 years in the making—were published by the IRS on August 4, 2016. If newly proposed IRS Regulations are finalized in their current form, nearly all valuation discounts on family controlled entities will be eliminated. Given the December...

The expression “an elephant in the room” is readily recognized to mean an uncomfortable situation not talked about but clearly known to all. When elephants make unwanted appearances—at family dinners, social gatherings, meetings—people get uncomfortable and begin to shut down. When this happens, they begin to operate from as...

If your boat was in lay-up over the winter, you’ll need to take care of a few things before it’s ready to go, including conducting a complete safety and maintenance review. As a boat owner, you’re responsible for knowing the condition of your boat and its equipment. Knowing and implementing the important safety measures and other ...

The more you have acquired, the higher your risk for litigious encounters. Your financial security could become severely compromised due to accidental events you may have thought were adequately covered. Excess liability insurance responds when the underlying liability limits of your various other policies have been exhausted. It is a critical, but...

Home invasion. Carjacking. Stalking threats. Road rage. And now, cyberbullying. These unthinkable crimes can happen every day and almost anywhere in the world. In the unfortunate event that these crimes can happen to you or a family member, there can be peace of mind from having a family protection coverage to help deal with the long and painful af...

One of the best ways to help ensure the safety of your family and friends while aboard your boat is to identify common maintenance items before they become a problem. And if your boat is hauled out for winter storage, there are important recommendations to follow to help ensure that your boat will be ready for safe and reliable cruising again next ...

If your boat is hauled out for winter storage, here are some suggestions on what to do before, during, and after the haulout. Each recommended step will help you ensure that your vessel will be ready for safe and reliable cruising again next year.

In the healthcare industry, a multitude of factors have driven a transition from a fee-for-service model toward a fee-for-value approach, which emphasizes the quality and outcome of care delivered. This emerging trend could present interesting investment opportunities that is also in alignment with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development ...

With President Trump often communicating policy via Twitter, investors are once again finding messaging can be costly—one mere tweet from Trump blasting the pricing of an F-35 fighter jet caused Lockheed Martin to shed $2 billion of market value within minutes. Since the likely market outcome usually lies somewhere in between extreme bullish ...

The enterprise-wide accounting and finance platforms that other industries employ have not historically satisfied the unique information and reporting requirements of private wealth management firms and family offices. Fortunately, material advances in investment accounting technology, as well as fresh ideas around accounting best practices have em...

Seventy-seven percent of employees want voluntary benefits. But with so many options available in today's market, it's crucial to choose the right benefits, based on your employees' demographics, claims history, and expressed wants and needs. A good place to start is to know the trending voluntary benefits and when top employers are off...

Private family trust companies have increased in popularity in recent years, and several states have adopted statutes specific to them. This compiled information compares state trust law requirements for Virtual Representation, Nonjudicial Settlement Agreements and Nonjudicial Modification Agreements in selected states that have PFTC statutes, incl...

The optimism and market strength seen in 2016 continued into the first quarter of this year with equity markets showing notable advances. International stocks showed their promise in the first three months of the year as emerging markets rallied 11.45 percent and developed international markets gained 7.39 percent. U.S. stocks were still in the rac...

Traditional economic theory teaches that humans will make rational decisions when presented with all the facts and appropriate alternatives. Research shows, however, that in many instances investors make irrational decisions driven by our prehistoric “lizard brain.” These are the reactions developed over many years to promote survival a...