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The legal qualifications for a trustee are simple: the person must be over the age of 18 and legally competent to manage his/her own affairs. The practical qualifications, however, are much more complicated. Most importantly, a trustee must have the skill set to properly administer the trust and meet the needs of the beneficiaries and must possess ...

Trusts have grown enormously in popularity since the mid-1990s as a result of the development of modern trust laws, the dramatic increase in wealth and evolving family needs and goals. Modern trust laws promote many key desires of a family’s estate planning, such as flexibility, control, tax savings, asset protection, family values, governanc...

You’ve built a valuable and successful business through hard work, long hours and countless decisions. You want to plan for transitioning the company, and the wealth you’ve created to future generations, but you aren’t ready to cede control. As the company grows in value, the issue becomes acute. What do you do? You’re not a...

Until recently, many families filled key governance roles associated with their trust and estate planning with trusted friends, colleagues, or advisors who were flattered to be asked and honored to serve. But many are now ready to retire and there is a shift in who is recruited—and willing—to take over. Top-caliber directors and t...

There has been a lot of speculation and confusion about the impacts of the most recent tax reform, with many asking if they have to pay more taxes. Unfortunately, the answer is, “it depends.” With this in mind, the tax impact is demonstrated by looking at potentially real scenarios for five different types of taxpayers: trust beneficiar...

Originating in English common law, trusts have been used for centuries to manage holdings of the wealthy. Even though trusts are quite common, many people may find them hard to understand. Having an introduction to the trust basics is a good place to begin and learn how trusts are used in wealth management plans to help provide financial support fo...

Becoming a great beneficiary starts with having a great trustee. If a trustee devotes the majority of his or her time to administrative matters and managing investments, the wealth distribution process often gets the least attention when it ideally deserves the most. To some trustees, the distribution process may simply seem like a meeting with a b...

Stories that are passed down from generation to generation are a way to create a family legacy that will be remembered long after we are gone. These stories are precious in understanding who we are and where we came from. Too often, the people who hold the keys to family stories lose details to memory loss or pass away before their histories can be...

Whether it be a family member, trusted friend, or professional advisor, whom you pick as a trustee matters. An ideal trustee will follow through on the objectives outlined during your lifetime, your spouse’s lifetime, and through the trust’s ultimate disposition. When choosing the right trustee, it is important to explore the key criter...

Although it is flattering to be asked to be a trustee, you should give careful consideration about serving in this important role, as performing the responsibilities of a fiduciary can expose you to great personal liability, especially if you lack training. Learn from the common mistakes made by family members serving as trustees and the ways for a...

Teaching children about personal finance, owning foreign assets, assessing the impact of tax extenders, and staying current on the Net Investment Income Tax are topics that many high net worth individuals must address in an on-going basis. Understanding the often highly complex issues and ever changing rules are challenging for even the most dilige...

Estate planning is an ongoing process and is about much more than reducing taxes—it’s about ensuring your family is provided for, your business can continue, and your charitable goals are achieved. Having a plan that reflects your current financial and family situation, and regularly reviewing it to ensure it fits any changes in your ci...

The death of a loved one is a difficult and emotional time for a family. There is often additional stress if you are appointed as the executor of the will and trustee of your family’s trusts, especially if the deceased had been the sole manager of substantial family assets and wealth. For an untrained person, it can be a daunting role. For these re...

The metaphorical glass slipper represents the combined interpersonal dynamics of your family and loved ones, your individual passions, goals, hopes and dreams, along with the complexity of your family’s estate plan. When combining the characteristics of your family with the complexity of your estate plan, the result is a unique dynamic with s...