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When it comes to trust mapping or developing an estate distribution summary for a family, it is critical to align the family’s expectations with the level of overview they want to see. A list of best practices, an example of a simplified estate distribution summary, and a detailed trust map are provided as guidance. The goal is to have a one-page p...

What you don’t know can hurt you. Learn how to use effective trust mapping as tool to help you identify missed opportunities in planning. Learn best practices on how to use a one page diagram to help you gain clarity around the current wealth transfer plan and spot opportunities for improvement. For more insights and practical guidance on effect...

Despite the challenging economic headwinds and shockwaves of 2022 continuing to reverberate, there are silver linings for those who focus on planning for the long term. In looking ahead, we examine wealth planning strategies through the power of resilience from four different lenses: multigenerational families, business owners, women, and philanthr...

Originating in English common law, trusts have been used for centuries to manage holdings of the wealthy. Even though trusts are quite common, many people may find them hard to understand. Having an introduction to the trust basics is a good place to begin and learn how trusts are used in wealth management plans to help provide financial support fo...

In nearly every discussion about estate planning, important questions and issues arise. If couples arrive in their attorney’s office having already thought about these issues—including assessing the level of financial management skills their beneficiaries should possess, how to communicate to their children about their hopes and expectations about ...

Flexible trust planning has never been more important as a result of current and future health, political, economic, and tax uncertainty. Modern directed trusts are one of the best vehicles to provide wealth preservation along with flexibility intergenerationally. Whether the federal estate, gift and GST Tax exemptions are high, low or repealed alt...

Historically, beneficiaries learned of wealth transfer plans only after the death of the grantor. However, this approach often leads to unanswered questions and, potentially, feelings of betrayal when expectations for future gifts are left unmet. There are several planning tools, including a Statement of Wealth Transfer (SOWTI), that can facilitate...

In times of significant change, it is easy to become paralyzed by uncertainty and indecision. However, such changes are inevitably accompanied by new opportunities. In this Wealth Planning Outlook, insights—and action items—are provided on the most vital planning issues amid epochal technological innovation in artificial intelligence (AI); an uncer...

When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was passed in late 2017, the “sunsetting” of many of the provisions in 2026 seemed far away. Among those of benefit to high-net-worth individuals was the increasing of the gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions to $11.18 million per person ($22.36 million for married couples) for 2018. The...

There are few matters of wealth management more fraught with tension than estate planning. Preparing to transfer wealth and assets to your heirs can involve emotions, family dynamics, legal structures, and a host of major and complex tax implications. The challenges around succession planning are also exacerbated because of the so-called Great Weal...

For many art collectors, the allure of acquiring and displaying art often overshadows the effort required to manage it properly and plan for its eventual disposition. After all, upon death, you can’t take it with you. Estate planning for art collectors involves navigating a complex landscape of valuation, tax, and management issues. Without a strat...

Effectively transitioning a business to the next generation of owners through a business succession plan that incorporates estate tax planning will result in the most value being retained by the owners and their families. Whether the business is entirely family owned or has unrelated owners, each scenario comes with its own complications but with c...

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), a federal law effective in January, will require new reporting tasks for many family offices and other entities, including limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships (LPs) and S and C corporations. In this update, a useful checklist and answers to the frequently asked questions about the CTA ...

With the Corporate Transparency Act (the CTA) becoming effective on January 1, 2024, a final ruling was issued on the Access Rule that establishes the circumstances under which beneficial ownership information (the BOI) may be disclosed to authorized recipients. This alert discusses the key components of the Access Rule, including the security and ...

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), designed to combat the use of shell companies for illicit purposes and increase ownership transparency in corporate structures, took effect on January 1, 2024. This update addresses how these CTA regulations will apply to corporate structures used in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions. In ...