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The Board of Directors plays a pivotal role in the effective governance of any organization, including the private family trust company. Board members fulfill their roles and responsibilities, in part, by holding regular meetings that utilize a comprehensive agenda. One vital tool for an effective Board meeting is the meeting agenda. Here, ten sugg...

2020 was a chaotic year for many industries and the COVID-19 pandemic created a host of challenges for providers in the home health and hospice space. For investors and business owners in that space, the year ended with robust M&A activity in the hospice sector while the home health M&A activity remained dormant. Looking at the trends and c...

Regardless of the sector, nearly every healthcare organization has made significant investments in technology, as data and computing became essential in the healthcare setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the pandemic, healthcare IT saw an uptick in M&A activity in certain sub-sectors. For those looking at potential investm...

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 exem...

With the IRS increasing their funding and enforcement, upper income taxpayers should expect the IRS audit coverage to increase dramatically on them. It’s important to prepare for the tax changes that are coming—and coming quickly. Along with having a team of professionals on your side, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. N...

Over the past decade, Tennessee has significantly elevated its position as a preeminent jurisdiction to situs a trust. With the latest enacted legislation in the state, that situs status is maintained. Some of the more significant enhancements of the legislation include the ability to designate applicable law, registration of a trust, and additiona...

The use of a specific ownership structure to provide for the deduction of investment management fees has evolved since 1941 to most recently in 2018 when guidance was provided by the U.S. Tax Court in determining whether the activities of a family investment management company constitute a trade or business. With a review of the details of tha...

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the federal estate tax exemption was temporarily doubled through December 31, 2025. Effective January 1, 2026, the exemption limits are scheduled to be reduced by half, adjusted for inflation. Charting the change and inflation adjustment, the projected limits are provided for your tax and estate plannin...

With increasing interest rates, the Treasury Department's recent publication of long-awaited proposed regulations will change the life-expectancy factors used in life expectancy-based estate planning. While the changes may not seem drastic, they should be considered by individuals contemplating its use. For most types of planning, when increase...

For families with significant wealth, a new IRS Revenue Procedure could result in millions of dollars in tax savings. The procedure makes the Deceased Spouse Unused Exclusion available up to five years after the death of the first spouse of a married couple.

A Net Income with Makeup Charitable Remainder Unitrust (NIMCRUT) is a unique wealth planning strategy and is an effective means to maximize after-tax returns, as well as benefiting charities in certain circumstances common to high net-worth families and individuals. This article outlines some ideal circumstances and illustrates the significant diff...

New regulations proposed by the IRS seek to address the basic exclusion amount for estate and gift taxes which was doubled in 2017 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The doubling of the exemption is scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2026. When this occurs, how can a donor lock in the increased exemption for years 2018 through 2025? New proposed regul...

A new U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Kaestner case means that more out-of-state residents will be able to fully realize the benefits of Tennessee's progressive trust laws and zero income tax on non-residents. Previously, many states relied on the residence of a trust beneficiary as one of the criteria for taxing a trust. In essence, the new r...

As family offices consider their tax planning strategy, it is important for their tax attorneys, financial executives, and legal team to conduct an analysis of the Biden Administration’s Tax Proposal. This guide and in-depth review, which includes an overview of the proposals impacting high-income taxpayers, will help you prepare for the chan...

The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee has released its draft budget reconciliation bill. While the provisions presented are subject to ongoing negotiations, some are more likely to pass than others. In this summary, some key provisions of the proposal are highlighted, including the tax rates on long-term capital gains and trusts and estates, elim...