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As the number of reported cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to rise, employers are increasingly confronted with the possibility of an outbreak in the workplace. Learn how COVID-19 continues to affect employers' disease prevention efforts and potential compliance issues and legal obligations.

As equity markets catch a nasty case of the coronavirus, what’s an investor to do? Four things to focus on amid the downturn.

In periods of elevated volatility such as the fourth quarter of 2018—when we saw the largest quarterly decline in the U.S. market, as measured by the S&P 500, since the third quarter of 2011—investors have many opportunities to harvest losses. Preserving tax benefits by avoiding wash-sale violations becomes even more important during these periods. However, there are occasional circumstances that make wash sales unavoidable. It's important to understand why they occur and why they aren't necessarily a negative.

The robust steps taken by the Federal Reserve to shore up the front end of the money markets are essential to the free flow of capital and global economic stability. Whether the Fed will bring back some of its financial crisis-liquidity and lending facilities to address the escalating Coronavirus crisis in the financial system, the bottom line is that well-functioning money markets are necessary for commercial activity.

Families often find it challenging to talk about long-term plans and wishes of their aging parents. But it’s never a good idea to wait until there’s a crisis to rally family members together on a plan that will address mom or dad’s needs and wishes regarding healthcare, living arrangements, and long-term financial care. Knowing how to get the conversation started and having helpful resources available can make the process an easier transition.

Governance is a word often misunderstood by families and family offices, but it is essential for a long-lasting family legacy. Strong governance establishes a process for decision-making and conformity within a multi-generational family to promote communication and strengthen unity, helping to preserve wealth and solidarity for future generations. Although high-net-worth families and individuals increasingly recognize the importance of instituting formal governance structures, doing so presents a complex task, and it can be difficult to know where to start.

In a world of low expected returns, finding alpha becomes more important than ever. Given the significant amount of capital looking for alpha in private markets, family offices will need to bridge the performance gap in this slower growth environment by leveraging their longer time horizon and partnering with experts in private market investments. Alpha, while elusive, can be found if one knows where to look.

Insurance is designed to protect essential aspects of your lives from financial loss, but there can also be ramifications to filing claims. These changes are usually noticed on the renewal immediately following the claim in the form of increased premiums, which can spur regret for using your policy in the first place. Claim surcharges can follow you for three years or more. You can avoid an insurance surcharge by considering a few things before a loss occurs.

In a time of equity market volatility, municipal bonds are doing what they’re supposed to do: diversify portfolios. Learn what may come next in the muni market.

As covered in the first part of the SECURE Act series, one of the key provisions of the Act is the partial elimination of the “stretch” or “life expectancy payout” for beneficiaries of retirement plans. In this second part in the series, a closer look is taken to see how that may affect your estate planning and the updates that may be needed.