Through thoughtful planning, there are ways to anticipate many possible issues—including the unanticipated—when doing your long-term and perpetual intergenerational trust planning. Consequently, detailed and flexible trust drafting is generally very helpful.
When considering where to establish a Private Family Trust Company (PFTC), South Dakota is continually chosen as the top regulated PFTC jurisdiction in the United States. The low PFTC capital requirements and maintenance costs make the set-up an easier process. Other compelling reasons include asset protection, best privacy jurisdict...
Financial planning is a long-term process, so it’s important to begin by building a strong foundation upon which the rest of your plan can grow. The foundation of your plan is designed to provide financial stability and protection. With these features in place, now may be an excellent time to examine opportunities to grow your assets and ulti...
The passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic, and Security (CARES) Act brings much needed tax relief to individuals, families, and businesses. While the CARES Act provides many potential sources of relief, the focus here is on the key personal and business tax provisions in the Act, and how such measures can provide support in the short ter...
The coronavirus pandemic has upended markets, the economy, and people’s livelihoods. Few things feel like they’re under your control. When it comes to investing, what should investors and their advisors do? While it may be strange to contemplate why the pandemic could also reshape taxes, the choices you make around investment taxes...
Can a pandemic-induced market downturn become an opportunity for investors looking to modify their portfolios? Learn how constructive changes, including going from ETFs to tax-managed SMAs, can present the best chance to improve overall portfolio health.
At the core of philanthropy, charitable giving stems from a desire to benefit a cause or program. That desire is even stronger during turbulent times. When moving forward with your charitable giving, there are a few key points to keep in mind to help maximize your strategy, including tax incentives and planning opportunities that are available...
On April 30, the IRS released guidance providing that Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan borrowers may not deduct costs that are paid for with loan proceeds that are forgiven under the CARES Act. Additional guidance is provided on this and other provisions of the PPP, including loan forgiveness and mortgage interest obligations. While PPP loan ...
Businesses unable to apply in time for loans from the initial Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) allocation have another opportunity to submit an application after the U.S. Senate passed a bill appropriating additional funding for the program. Similarly, businesses that submitted loan applications which could not be approved by the SBA because of th...
Although the population and life expectancies of U.S. retirees are increasing, portfolio yields remain at historically low levels. As defined benefit income becomes less commonly available, the need for informed retirement portfolio spending strategies is more critical. Because every investor's financial situation is unique, there is no one-siz...
When taxes don’t matter, and that is rarely the case for most investors, pre-tax returns are sufficient in determining whether the investment did well or poorly relative to a benchmark. But for taxable accounts, pre-tax returns provide an incomplete picture, and relying on them can lead to poor investment decisions. In such cases, using after...
Under the current Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), a wide range of income tax planning techniques can be used as part of the estate planning process. One primary technique includes a focus on managing low-basis assets to achieve a step-up basis. Other techniques center around the beneficiary deemed owned trust. While more than one technique can be use...
A Life insurance audit is an everything-to-gain, nothing-to-lose proposition for a trustee of a trust that owns life insurance where significant planning is in place. A proper, thorough audit is needed to mitigate the fiduciary liability. It also starts with understanding the difference between a Life Insurance Review and a Life Insurance Audit.&nb...
What are the tax benefits of investing in Qualified Opportunity Funds? A closer look assesses the opportunities —and the risks.
A side effect of the new normal created by social distancing due to the Coronavirus pandemic is the inability for clients and advisers to come together in the same room to discuss, plan, and execute on their estate planning objectives. However through modern technology, these discussions can still occur in virtual spaces, and pursuant to an executi...