Family and Closely-Held Business Planning

What is a Family Office?

A family office is a private wealth management entity that may provide a variety of services to a wealthy family, such as investment management, financial planning, estate planning, and philanthropy. Family offices can be set up as a standalone entity or as a division of a larger company.  The beauty

As the owner of a franchise, you may be focused on the day-to-day operations and management of the business. You might have plans for the longer-term, for growing the business in the years ahead. But what if you are no longer around? Who will operate it? And who will inherit it? Would you prefer that

Timing is crucial for clients looking to gift before the potential sunset of the estate and gift tax exemption at the end of 2025. In today’s episode, Partner Erin Nicholls sits down with Evan Levine, Founder of Complete Advisors as well as his colleague, Nainesh Shah, lead analyst, who specializes in business valuations for trust

One of the challenges facing owners of closely held businesses is how to preserve their business legacy in the event of their death. The federal estate tax, which applies to estates exceeding $13.61 million in 2024, can pose a significant financial burden on the heirs of business owners, especially if the estate (i.e., the taxpayer)

Jacob Koenig, Managing Director and Partner of Woodbridge International, sits down with Partners Erin Nicholls and Michael Clear to discuss his firm’s unique approach to selling companies, including their focus on marketing and their ability to reach an extensive network of well-vetted potential buyers. The conversation touches on current market conditions and the importance of

On this episode, Partners Erin Nicholls and Michael Clear continue their conversation with Wiggin and Dana Partner Jack Sousa, on entrepreneurship, equity, and entity structuring. They dive deep into the entrepreneur’s guide to equity, employee stock options, and the strategic importance of early legal advice, with particularly valuable insights on estate planning synergy and

In the latest podcast episode, host Michael Clear introduces the “Future Focused: Private Wealth Insights” blog, a platform designed to help optimize and protect your financial future. Explore domestic and international estate planning strategies, tax optimization, and more, with regularly updated content to keep you informed about the latest trends and developments. Visit www.privatewealthinsights.com to

In an ever-evolving landscape, it’s crucial to audit an estate plan and ensure it keeps pace with your life. On this episode, Partners Erin Nicholls and Michael Clear dive into the importance of revisiting your estate plan, examining the impact of changes in asset levels, evolving inter-personal relationships, relocating to a new state, and changes

Business owners have their own set of challenges to address when considering estate planning strategies, including family concerns, personal concerns and operation of the business itself. On this episode, Partner Michael Clear supplies a roadmap of estate planning options for business owners that seek to address these challenges. He reviews the three phases of estate

Congratulations, you just signed your Will and your Revocable Trust.  You set out clear directions on how your assets should pass at your death.  Your heirs will be grateful.  But there is more you can do to ease the burden of estate administration – you can fund your Revocable Trust while you are alive. Set