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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.

Taking the time to consider security measures before a theft occurs can save a collector a great amount of frustration and expense. Here are seven key measures that can increase the security of fine art and collectibles for little cost.

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 opportunity for families to transfer a significant amount of wealth from now through the end of 2012 is unprecedented. Certainly there are many technical or quantitative issues to consider, but don’t forget to focus on the more qualitative issues, especially in preparing your family for the receipt of the assets.

Investors are well advised to take into account the interest rate environment when considering wealth transfer options. Interest rates are important when establishing trusts, reviewing existing estate plans, and lending money to family members. The current rates used to value wealth transfers are near historic lows.

This brief client alert highlights provisions of key 2012 estate, gift, and generation skipping transfer tax provisions and strategies for wealthy individuals to consider in their estate planning.

With incidents of Internet crime surpassing 300,000 annually and continuing to grow, computer users are wise to watch for the warning signs that their computers are being hacked and to be proactive in protecting themselves. This article provides best practices for preventing security breaches as well as a checklist to help maintain your personal se...

Life insurance policy owners should take heed as continued low interest rates result in lower investment returns credited to policies over time. This can be particularly troublesome for those who do not regularly review and benchmark their policy performance. This bulletin examines the impact of a low interest rate environment on insurers, the perf...

Indexed universal life insurance provides a crediting rate tied to the growth of an equity index. With the potential for an enhanced yield and a guaranteed minimum crediting rate, indexed universal life may be an attractive life insurance option, particularly in the current low interest rate environment.

As the financial world grows increasingly integrated and jurisdictions share ever more information, taxpayers who continue to hold undeclared taxable accounts are at much greater risk of being discovered. The new voluntary disclosure program may represent the best chance to come clean with the IRS.

Directors and officers at private companies have reason to be concerned about potential U.S. securities exposures, leading savvy private firms to adjust their internal compliance and governance structures to more closely resemble those of their public counterparts. They also are taking a closer look at their D&O liability insurance programs.

The FTC is seeking input on this report, which proposes safeguards for data gathered online and offline from consumers. The three main areas addressed are privacy by design in all business practices, simplified privacy choice for consumers and greater transparency related to company data policies.

The low interest rate environment, depressed asset values and current transfer tax rules seem to offer superior wealth transfer planning opportunities. However, time may be of the essence as the window of opportunity created by these three conditions may be short-lived.

True wealth transfer focuses on the synergies of various forms of family capital. The authors support shifting the definition of "success" from the singular transfer of financial wealth to helping the family develop a plan that considers the family's human capital and its relationship to the sustainability of the family's financial capital.