Family-owned businesses are the backbone of the American economy. However, despite the job security and family legacy potential many of these businesses represent for the families that own them, the importance of careful succession planning is often overlooked. Indeed, only about 30% of family businesses survive into the second generation, according to the Family Business Institute.  ...

One of the many challenges high net worth families face during the estate and legacy planning process is knowing when and how to educate and prepare their children for the wealth they are set to inherit. While today’s rising generations—millennials in particular—may have a solid grasp of financial management concepts, wealth literacy is very different than financial literacy. Helping younger...

If you are self-employed, you know that owning your own business takes a large investment of time, money, and hard work. You dedicate all your resources to building a successful company, but success is often a double-edged sword. The more money you earn, the more taxes you owe as a portion of your overall income. And, your progress towards retirement may stagnate as your focus shifts to more...

Legacy planning is an opportunity for families to define their values while creating long-term objectives to their wealth. While preserving wealth and developing an effective approach to pass it from generation to generation is often a challenge, sometimes the most difficult aspect of legacy planning is knowing when and how to integrate younger generations and trusted advisors. When it comes to...

Culture is widely considered to be one of the most important elements of a successful business. It’s also critically important for any family—especially when creating a long-term wealth plan and sustainable legacy.

In general, VRDNs have three key characteristics that distinguish them from other municipal bonds:

If you are beginning the legacy and estate planning process, your first concern may naturally be how to maximize what you give to your family and favorite charities by minimizing what you pay in taxes. However, your legacy is not just about increasing the financial wealth that you hope to pass on to future generations. While this objective can usually be met through careful and collaborative...

Download PDF Most headlines related to emerging markets (EM) have been decidedly negative this year. The growing U.S. trade conflict with China (by far the biggest emerging economy) helped spark a bear-market-sized decline in the Shanghai Composite Stock Market Index over the last seven months.1 More recently, the economic and financial travails of Turkey have rippled through global...

Stabilization of the U.S. dollar, progress on trade agreements and signs of a recovery in the emerging markets all contributed to solid returns for the month.

For a small business owner, succession planning can be an emotional and complex decision, especially if you do not plan to keep your business within the family.

As a long-term investor, you may choose to include fixed income in your investment portfolio for a variety of reasons, such as capital preservation, income generation, or a combination of both.

According to the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), one in nine seniors has reported being abused, neglected or exploited within the last year, and one in twenty seniors has indicated some form of perceived financial mistreatment.

If you have recently sold or are considering selling your business, working with your advisor to ensure that your wealth management plan is aligned with your post-sale goals can help protect your assets and provide a financially secure future for you and your loved ones.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, and these numbers are only expected to increase over the next few decades.

The Federal Reserve left the target range for short-term rates at 1.75% to 2.00%. Futures contracts for short term interest rates implied a low probability of any action by the Fed at today’s meeting.