Resource Search

In light of the increased cyber fraud of email accounts, firms should adopt client callout practices to confirm third-party wire requests received through email. Faxes, voice mail messages and emails should not be used to verify wire transactions. Client education makes these types of money movement controls more acceptable and encourages clients to be proactive in protecting their assets.

Planning discussions about wishes are often reduced to how wealth should be distributed or utilized when the principal dies. However, wealthy individuals may be better served by a much broader discussion of how to build a family legacy that generates social and economic wealth, creates family unity and transcends time.

Following a survey in which 83 percent of employers reported that the average age of their workforce increased in the past decade, the author, who has practiced labor law for three decades, offers four tips for employers who are challenged by a workforce that may include as many as four different generations of workers.

Approached the right way, a prenuptial agreement can strengthen the bonds of marriage and encourage a productive, healthy discussion of finances and expectations. Many religions require a discussion of finances in premarital counseling, but talking about money is very difficult and not a topic many people are accustomed to discussing.

Many employers have implemented wellness programs to help contain health plan costs and decrease absenteeism. While many of these programs have existed for some time, new regulations issued by the Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health & Human Services require plan sponsors to modify wellness programs for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014.

The allocation of receipts and disbursements between principal and interest are critical to the proper design and administration of trusts. Individuals creating trusts should have an appreciation and basic understanding of these concepts so the trusts will operate consistent with the settlors’ intentions and provide the intended benefits.

The authors review some best practices for building and managing a reinsurance portfolio, including what it takes to do effective sourcing of reinsurance business, thoughts on pricing and underwriting the book, what it means to optimize a reinsurance portfolio, and effective risk management practices.

For wealth management organizations, the slow growth in number and assets of their target client pool is disconcerting news after a brief period of great opportunity for those firms with the proper skills and support infrastructure. The challenge going forward will be to demonstrate to existing and prospective clients that they can provide a compelling value proposition in a challenging industry environment.

The investment returns of the past are unlikely to be repeated going forward, as asset classes that comprise a large portion of many nonprofit portfolios are likely nearing the end of a long bull market. This will force boards to look for additional sources of return as well as more efficient ways to make required distributions.

After an historic financial crisis and ensuing market volatility, many nonprofit organizations are struggling while others are thriving. This paper uncovers the difference: Some of these organizations have been far better at integrating their investment strategies with their overall missions.