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The long-awaited and much-speculated about regulations to Section 2704 were issued in early August 2016. As issued, the proposed regulations expand the scope and reach of section 2704 to preclude use of various structural techniques to artificially suppress the value of interests in entities transferred by taxpayers or owned by them at death. The I...

Wealth does not build itself, but it can be built, nurtured and preserved—not just for you and your generation, but for generations to come. In an unprecedented study into the insights of wealthy families, clear evidence of new wealth management strategies has emerged. There are signs of more inclusive decision-making within the family. Many ...

A volunteer position with a nonprofit organization can be an incredibly rewarding experience—both for the volunteer and for the organization. But the path to key leadership roles with such organizations can be tricky to navigate. While the process inevitably will vary from organization to organization, there are a few things that can help with maki...

Time is our most precious, finite, and versatile resource. Family office industry stakeholders are reevaluating their relationship with time—making meaningful behavioral changes to maximize their “return on invested time.” Powerful and practical tools—some borrowed from the field of investment management—can help maximize return on this scarce and ...

Owners who are looking to transition their businesses face the question of whether it is better to sell now or wait until later, particularly in light of the current tax situation. In making this consideration, they should consider the pros and cons of various options: status quo, management buyout, ESOP, sale to a financial buyer, or sale to a str...

Research shows that we are not good at predicting what makes us happy as individuals and that having considerable wealth does not make us happier. However, having control over our lives does. A financial plan that starts by discovering the key goals and issues that motivate an individual can lead to greater personal happiness.

Given the uncertainty about how long low interest rates will last, now may be a good time to review personal debt as part of overall finances and identify potential refinancing opportunities. In evaluating your borrowing strategy, consider your asset/liability mix, the cost and tax implications of borrowing, and your capacity for debt.

Recently the IRS released proposed regulations under Chapter 14 of the Internal Revenue Code that would severely limit—if not eliminate—the application of valuation discounts, including lack of marketability and minority discounts, to interests in closely held family entities for gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax purpos...

For years, owners of family-controlled companies have taken advantage of applicable valuation discounts to advance their objectives in transferring wealth and company ownership to future generations in a tax efficient manner. On August 2, the Treasury Department issued proposed regulations under Internal Revenue Code Section 2704 to curb the use of...

Avoiding the issue of succession planning is much easier than starting a conversation about handing over the reins to other family members. But avoidance does not defer the inevitable, and it puts family harmony and wealth at risk. As patriarchs and matriarchs of wealth families confront the issue of succession planning, there are seven questions f...

At the start of a family enterprise journey, there is often a patriarch (or matriarch) who was both an entrepreneur and a leader who overcame uncertainty or adversity to create something very special with the potential to last for many generations. For the families seeking to sustain their legacies, there will come a time for the patriarchs to move...

The planning landscape is likely to change even more as families seek to provide a sustainable pool of wealth not only for succeeding generations but also for the current generation. Nease, Lagana, Eden & Culley Inc. highlights the most significant of these changes and some of the advantages they present for planners and clients who are prepared to...

Analysis by Spring Mountain Capital shows that increased spending will profoundly jeopardize the long-term health of endowments. This paper proposes a framework for analyzing spending decisions that can be of use to endowments and other types of investors who need to balance long-term growth objectives with short-term spending needs.

Experiencing an investment loss is bad enough, but that situation is even worse when those losses cannot be used to reduce tax liability. Rothstein Kass explores the recent Garnett decision by the U.S. Tax Court, which broadened the rules used to determine whether participation in a business activity can be considered passive activity. This designa...

The unified managed household, the most recent extension of overlay portfolio management, extends overlay management services to households with multiple accounts, multiple individuals and multiple custodians. This paper from Natixis explains the evolution of overlay management and describes the benefits of the unified managed household, particular...