Planning ahead is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your family. Besides protecting your home from a possible burglary, it is important to think about your personal security. This article offers 28 tips for preventing a break-in and another 13 for keeping family members safe.
In the wake of SEC regulation, the best course of action for every family with a family office is to identify promptly the most desirable options for bringing their family into compliance by March 30, 2012 and, at the same time, helping it to turn arid compliance dollars into an optimal structure for achieving its long-term value.
The new regulatory requirements stemming from the passage of Dodd-Frank will certainly be a costly addition to the reporting framework of the alternative investment industry. However, this new era of heightened regulatory and compliance procedures also brings the potential benefits of financial stability and investor protection.
The authors summarize the history of the IRS' voluntary disclosure programs to date and conclude that, indeed, it is still possible for a U.S. person to become U.S. tax compliant and avoid criminal prosecution by making a voluntary disclosure.
This guide covers wealth management and tax planning strategies to consider before year-end and into 2012. Topics include tax management, wealth transfer planning, education funding, philanthropy, retirement, liabilities management, insurance, business owner issues, tax implications of health care reform, and building a strategic plan.
Power failures, IT system crashes, supply chain problems or a flu epidemic can cripple a family office as completely as a natural disaster or terrorist attack. Developing and implementing a business continuity plan can help bolster a family business's defenses against such risks and serve as a first line of defense against losses.
Nearly all states have “delegated” trust statutes, but only a few states, such as South Dakota, have “directed” trust statutes, which provide families with maximum flexibility and control regarding a trust’s asset allocation, diversification, investment management and distributions.
A Private Family Trust Company (PFTC) is typically a family owned LLC (i.e. pass through entity or corporation), authorized by a state’s Division of Banking to be a PFTC and serve as the trustee for the family’s trusts. This article outlines key considerations in establishing a PFTC and two alternatives: a Directed Trust and a Directed ...
Reporting requirements for capital asset sales have changed, and the IRS is now in a better position to verify and track your activity. This article explains the IRS’ equation: verify + track + match data + audit = increased tax collection.
The SEC and Cayman Islands Monetary Authority are establishing mechanisms for ongoing consultation, cooperation, and exchange of information related to the oversight of regulated entities that operate across national borders. Each agency intends to provide the other with assistance obtaining information that is needed to ensure compliance within th...
New cost basis reporting rules for securities sales allow the IRS to better track an investor’s capital gains and, as a result, help the agency collect all the money it can. For investors, getting the correct cost basis recorded now is important because it will set the bar for how much they pay on future gains.
The IRS has begun checking real estate transfer records in at least 15 states. So far, the new initiative has netted more than 500 cases for audit, and there will likely be many more depending on the results of the taxes collected from this initial effort. Similar initiatives are likely, as the IRS is budgeted to receive additional funds to seek ou...
A properly structured, funded, and invested dynasty trust can be a powerful tool in achieving significant tax savings on the transfer of wealth across generations. This paper discusses the tax benefits of dynasty trusts under Delaware law as well as funding and investment management strategies to consider.
For the couple planning marriage, the focus is often on the union itself and not the meshing of financial assets, rights, and obligations. In a time when many couples are marrying later in life, have children and other financial responsibilities from a previous marriage, or have considerable assets that they want to safeguard, a prenuptial agreemen...
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission finalized several amendments to the registration and compliance requirements applicable to certain investment companies, including family offices. Family offices that trade futures contracts or even hire managers that include futures contracts in their portfolios would have to register under the Investment C...