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When you’ve made the decision to protect a collection through insurance, you want to be sure that coverage amounts measure up to the value of your items. Determining proper values can be tricky, as so many variables impact a piece’s worth. Given the ever-changing market, values are in constant flux. That’s why professional appraisals are critical, ...

When selecting an insurance advisor, make sure the person is part of the best-in-class group. Use this checklist to help pick the right one for you and your family.

Ultimately, how well your wealth transfer plan fulfills your legacy and meets the needs of the next—and future—generations depends on whom you name as your trustee(s). This makes your trustee selection one of the most critical aspects of an already complex wealth planning process. To help navigate this selection process, work with a framework built...

Third-party vendors can range from custodial companies, to IT services, to professional service firms. Whatever their contracted function, they have access to your physical premises and/or your network data. So how can you make sure that when you’re signing a contract with an outside vendor, you’re not exposing yourself and your clients to excessiv...

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...

In December of 2017, the U.S. Tax Court decided in the Lender Management, LLC v. Commissioner case that deductions that were part of a taxpayer’s trade or business were deductible under Section 162; however, deductions under Section 212 were suspended through tax year 2025. Following the suspension of the 2-percent miscellaneous itemized deduc...

Over the past decade, matriarchs and patriarchs of successful families have been shifting their focus from their children to a broader group of individuals, such as grandchildren, siblings, and nieces. Often, they choose to create family banks, which are typically trusts that are funded to help individuals pursue entrepreneurial opportunities, vent...

When evaluating and trying to find the right insurance advisor or company, it helps to have a map outlining the RFP process and a checklist of best practices. Learn where to start in your search and avoid getting the wrong results.

Succession is not just about money or property. It means confronting family relationships and taking the time to make sure that the drivers for succession planning connect personal motivations, the purpose of wealth, and specific family issues. It requires an emotional commitment to a process that once started must run its course, including having ...

Whether you’ve worked with ultra-high-net-worth clients for years or are just starting to grow that business, you know that these families and individuals are typically very private and prefer to deal exclusively with trusted advisors. When considering the right independent insurance agents or brokers, there are six things to keep in mind when maki...

Family offices, much like the families that need them, are works in progress. You can’t just set up a family office ownership structure and think it won’t need some type of attention in the future. A number of factors, including regulatory changes, could compel you to revisit your ownership structure to ensure it still makes sense. See why it may b...

Because of losses in catastrophe-prone areas and other hard market factors, insurance carriers have pulled back the amount of insurance they’ll offer. Despite the hard market, real estate owners and operators that have well-maintained properties and who are prepared for catastrophes will have an advantage. Overall, the formula for a better insuranc...

When selling your business, choosing the right team of advisors can make or break the deal. Some business owners may question whether to hire an investment bank to help with the transaction—perhaps to save on transaction fees or because there is already a specific buyer in mind. Before deciding to “go it alone,” consider the quantifiable value...

Disagreements and discord can arise when it comes to your family vacation home, a unique asset that symbolizes important memories and family connections. For this reason, you should specifically address the vacation home in your estate plan to avoid hard feelings and even disputes. With thoughtful and proactive planning, a family can avoid many of ...