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The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Act”) brought extensive changes and a need to contemplate the doubling of the federal exemption from $5.6 million to $11.2 million for the estate, gift and GST taxes, along with planning for the sunset of the increased exemption amounts on December 31, 2025. Planners should also factor in the Federal Reserve trend to raise interest rates and how international families continue to establish trusts in the United States at a record pace. These trends provide advisors and planners powerful opportunities in 2018 and beyond.

Three converging trends—including a shift from negative to positive screening—are making it easier for investors to implement impact investment programs that deliver competitive returns.

Artwork, along with other types of assets, can be used as collateral for a loan to purchase property, invest in a business, or to buy more art. There are no limitations on the use of the proceeds. But before enlisting your art collection and other high-value assets to help secure the financing for a big purchase, there are a few things to consider, including appraisals and due diligence.

Whether it be a family member, trusted friend, or professional advisor, whom you pick as a trustee matters. An ideal trustee will follow through on the objectives outlined during your lifetime, your spouse’s lifetime, and through the trust’s ultimate disposition. When choosing the right trustee, it is important to explore the key criteria to help make this difficult but important decision.

Although it is flattering to be asked to be a trustee, you should give careful consideration about serving in this important role, as performing the responsibilities of a fiduciary can expose you to great personal liability, especially if you lack training. Learn from the common mistakes made by family members serving as trustees and the ways for a trustee to protect against the liability that is inherent when serving in a fiduciary role.

Each decade of life brings unique challenges and opportunities, financial and otherwise. Focusing on each stage from the 40s to the 70s, we highlight the planning issues that may be ripe for your consideration, including revisiting your estate plan, downsizing your home, and constructing your general retirement plan.

Developing markets face growing risks that present a clear and present danger to middle market firms embedded in those economies. Differentials in rate policy between the U.S. central bank and its foreign counterparts, an appreciating greenback, along with an atypical late business cycle fiscal boost, present the major driving forces in interest rate divergence between the United States and emerging economies. In this issue of The Real Economy, we explore the topic and more, including automakers’ response to tariffs and pricing reform in the pharmaceutical industry.

Each year thousands of property owners and their families are affected by natural disasters and the financial damages can be devastating. Although it may seem there is very little that can be done to prepare against a hurricane, there are practical steps before, during, and after the storm that you can do (or not do) to protect yourself, family, and personal property.

Many estate plans can be too boilerplate and do little more than establish what happens with physical assets upon death. They overlook personal sentiments and expressions that could prove to be a source of comfort to a family in moments of grief.

This is a field guide for avoiding the pitfalls that cause families to overpay, waste time, or lose money due to estate transitions. If you are dealing with a family member’s house full of possessions when age, personal or medical reasons dictate that it is time to sell a primary or vacation home, then these tips will help you simplify the process. By taking the frustration and time-consuming aspects out of the equation this will make your estate transition easier.