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Creating an estate plan can be a complex process, but it ensures security for surviving family members, serves as a core element of long-term wealth strategy and contributes to the family's long-term stability. Neuberger Berman covers the essentials of creating an estate plan, including basic planning documents, legal issues and lifetime wealth tra...

The federal estate tax is scheduled for repeal in 2010, with a less generous version expected to go into effect in 2011. This has Congress considering proposals that could change estate and gift tax laws. This paper from U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management explores six of these proposals – including limits on the generation-skippi...

Experiencing an investment loss is bad enough, but that situation is even worse when those losses cannot be used to reduce tax liability. Rothstein Kass explores the recent Garnett decision by the U.S. Tax Court, which broadened the rules used to determine whether participation in a business activity can be considered passive activity. This designa...

With estate tax repeal less likely, grantor trusts are gaining attention as a way to optimize existing tax exemptions. Because grantor trusts offer income tax and estate tax benefits, they also can be a powerful tool for removing assets from a taxable estate. This article from Atlantic Trust Private Wealth Management explains the types of trusts, h...

With the IRS intensifying its focus on taxpayer non-compliance, ultra-wealthy individuals are wise to take steps now to reduce the likelihood of an audit and ensure they are fully prepared if one should occur in the future. A new white paper from HUB International offers some guidance for proactive taxpayers.

With the announcement of a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, the uncertainty as to who will govern the UK is over. However, what does this mean for taxpayers? Withers Worldwide looks at the likely changes under the new administration and the implications for taxpayers.

A short article from TaylorWessing highlights the benefits of a Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility, including a shorter taxable period, lesser tax penalties and the guarantee of no criminal prosecution than would be otherwise available within the UK tax regime. For an individual eligible for the LDF, in the great majority of cases the LDF will offer...

Canada provides a safe and tax-efficient alternative for wealthy families seeking a residency strategy to protect their wealth and a place to set up a family office. The country has neither gift nor estate taxes and offers tax-reduction structures for wealth immigrating families.

Research shows investment managers are far too willing to incur a large negative tax alpha for taxable clients while pursuing a pretax alpha. The result is that most investment management products offer a combined alpha that is negative: pretax alpha, whether good or bad, less a relentlessly negative tax alpha.

Among the items on the list are basic tax-free gift opportunities, larger exempt gifts, tax-free transfers to credit shelters and family trusts, IRAs and retirement benefits, charitable contributions from IRAs, low interest rates related to leveraged gifting opportunities, decanting and creative planning with irrevocable trusts, and family C corpor...

Increased tax exemptions, continued availability of valuation discounts, historically low interest rates and depressed asset values have created a perfect storm for families interested in preserving their wealth. However, current opportunities may begin being eliminated as early as January 2012.

An agreement was reached on 24 August between the UK Treasury and Swiss Federal Department of Finance regarding the treatment of Swiss accounts held by UK taxpayers. The agreement is due to be signed by both parties within the next few months at which stage the detailed terms will be issued. This briefing note summarises the outline of the agreemen...

The Court of Appeals' recent decision in the Robert Gaines-Cooper case does not represent a change in UK residency law, Withers Worldwide notes. Instead, the decision reinforces what has always been good advice for those seeking to lose UK residency: Make a complete break with the UK and keep visits to a bare minimum.

The unified managed household, the most recent extension of overlay portfolio management, extends overlay management services to households with multiple accounts, multiple individuals and multiple custodians. This paper from Natixis explains the evolution of overlay management and describes the benefits of the unified managed household, particular...

Proposed changes to information reporting on IRS Form 1099 would place a greater burden on businesses to accurately identify income taxable to others and assess larger penalties on businesses that fail to do so. In this report, Vogel Consulting details the cost of non-compliance and offers suggestions of what businesses can do to be prepared.