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The loss of a spouse to either death or divorce is one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can go through. Life will change irrevocably in many ways for the surviving spouse or separated partners. This article reviews often-neglected steps that may lessen the burden and financial issues that you and/or your spouse may face when this painful lo...

It is frequently suggested that that family offices should mimic institutions and adopt an institutionally disciplined and process-oriented approach when managing their investment portfolios. Through a process-oriented approach, institutions and family offices can be more effective and produce more efficient long-term results.While this concept is ...

When approaching estate planning and, more specifically, setting up a long-term, irrevocable trust, many high net worth families both think and act locally. They provide -- often with minimal analysis or advice – for a trust that is governed by the laws of their home state and subject to taxation there, without considering alternatives that m...

Family business owners begin their adventures balancing two priorities: keeping the business as an integral part of an ever-expanding family and creating a profitable, sustainable organization. In the end, family is the guiding force behind the company’s success; maximizing value for the next generation is sometimes more important than maximi...

The Worldwide Family Business Tax Guide brings together detailed information on family businesses from 41 countries worldwide. The Guide is a detailed source of information for practitioners, family business owners, tax advisors, tax legislators and tax academics. In trying to distil leading practices and help promote sound tax policy for family bu...

The US Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion issued June 19, 2014, implemented a new standard for courts to employ in determining if a taxpayer may challenge whether the Internal Revenue Service has issued a summons in good faith. In light of the Service’s new procedures for administering Information Document Requests, including the potential...

The process of developing long-term strategies to manage family wealth requires careful thought and well-coordinated tactics focused on achieving far-reaching wealth planning objectives.All too often, plans are established that are focused primarily on minimizing the tax burden. Individuals and families need to be careful that the tax “tail&r...

It is not uncommon for wealth transfer planning to focus solely on the amount of money to be transferred and potential strategies for minimizing taxes. However, one of the most lasting gifts that a grantor can provide family members is an understanding of their long-term goals for the family and how this is shaped by shared history and values.This ...

The historic June 2013 Windsor decision clarified the financial and legal status of some legally married same-sex couples, while leaving others in an ambiguous status—legally married for purposes of federal law, but still considered single in many states. For those in a same-sex relationship or for families with children or grandchildren in a same-...

With more people investing more money in art and fine collectibles, whether for purely aesthetic or for strategic financial purposes, awareness of the risks associated with these investments and the ways to protect these assets is vital. Collectors should pay particular atte...

Delaware has long been a jurisdiction of choice for grantors of trusts—for generations, the state has built a trust-friendly body of legislation and has supported its laws with a knowledgeable and effective court system. In this package of white papers, our wealth strategies experts explain the benefits and considerations of Delaware tru...

While everyone is at risk when it comes to hackers and online thieves, the wealthy are specifically targeted, and increasingly by aggressive and well-organized individuals. The good news is there is a lot you can do to protect yourself and your family. It won't take much time - most of the effort involves simple, common-sense steps ...

The paper discusses how many advisors and high net worth clients view life insurance as an expense as opposed to a dynamic asset that requires constant monitoring, analysis and periodic decision-making to give it the best opportunity to perform as it was intended. Included are some case examples of real life situations and once read can provi...

Family offices are complicated because of the scope of services they deliver, the high number and complexity of entities they oversee and the staff they must manage. These complexities can open the door to liability. Employing consistent policies and procedures, establishing an annual entity review process, maximizing protection provided by indemni...

With bonds providing so little yield in today's market, should life insurance be viewed as an investment? Whether or not you view insurance as an "asset class," permanent life insurance is definitely an asset, and it can help investors achieve their long-term financial goals. Thoughtful coordination of insurance and invest...