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Family business research in the U.S. and around the world has increased dramatically over time, as the importance of family firms continues to become more and more salient to business school faculty and key decision makers in both industry and politics. With this latest research and update in almost 20 years, it addresses and explores the actual impact of family businesses on the U.S. economy.

In this episode, guests Amy Miller and Alex of the AICPA Tax Policy & Advocacy Team share updates and provide insights into the areas the team is closely watching and working in. Here's what they cover:

Many trends—including the explosive price changes in a handful of equities driven by a crowdsourced short squeeze—are indicative of an asset bubble. Grizzled market veterans are starting to draw comparisons with the go-go market of the late 1990s that ended with the tech bubble bursting in 2000. That thought leads many to conclude that the U.S. equity market is in a liquidity-driven bubble that again may not end well for investors.

Solving world hunger—or “food insecurity”—is really hard. The solutions are not particularly sexy, and they require a very long-term outlook. In seeking to learn more about the problem, we reached out to the ones trying to solve it.

With the right tools and commitment, most businesses can make remote work just as productive, if not more productive, than in-person office work. Ultimately, remote work requires leaders to retune their managerial style to fit the situation. There are three powerful strategies that leaders can apply to help keep their remote employees engaged, and it begins with setting clear expectations and boundaries.

In Part 2 of the conversation on solving world hunger through innovation and strategic investing, we welcome two more entrepreneurs. Ezinne Uzo-Okuro, CEO of Terraformers, is using her background as a NASA scientist to empower people to grow healthy food and create sustainable livelihoods. Manuela Zierau, Global Lead of H2Grow, works with communities to grow food—and well-being—in impossible places. Private Client CIO Sid Ahl and CrossBoundary’s Kirtika Challa join in to discuss investment takeaways.

High net-worth families for whom privacy is a paramount consideration may be concerned that the Corporate Transparency Act, which became law on January 1, 2021, creates a risk of sensitive ownership information being exposed to the wrong persons. This may concern family offices; however, regulated private trust companies and trusts may be exempt.

As the surge of interest in creating a more just and equal economic system gathers force and begins to translate into real action, so do its detractors. From an investment perspective, the source of tension tends to occur when it links gender and racial diversity to financial performance. But there’s more to the discussion when it comes to building a more inclusive world, including the value it holds for investors who want to use their portfolios to move equity of opportunity forward.

Municipal bond yields have finally begun to move higher. The surge is a natural and healthy development—reflective of an improving economic landscape but not a marked upshift in inflation. In this environment, see where muni investors can find opportunity and capitalize.

The big question in the estate planning world today is whether, when, and to what extent the U.S. Congress will enact changes to gift, estate, and income tax laws. With many challenges facing the new Biden Administration, and the narrowly Democratic Senate, major tax legislation may not even be considered in 2021. Nevertheless, the tax proposals endorsed by the Biden Administration provide clear signals for actions clients should consider this year.