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)
Estate Planning
Executor and Trustee Selection
Who should I nominate as the Executor of my Will? Who should be the Trustee of my Trust? Should the Executor and Trustee be the same person? Should I nominate my children? Can I name multiple people in these roles? What if I don’t have anyone appropriate to name?
These are questions that every estate…
Speaker Series: Navigating the Tax Landscape – Insights on Gifting
We are pleased to launch our speaker series, a break from the traditional podcast format, with our premier episode featuring Partner Vanessa Maczko who will detail where we are now with taxes and gifting, and where we are going. She discusses what is not a taxable gift and how to use your estate and gift…
Estate Planning for College-Aged Children
This time of year, many parents with a college-aged child are squeezing in last-minute vacations, back to school shopping and other activities before their child returns to college or starts first semester. However, one component that is often overlooked is to ensure adult children have adequate estate planning in place to address their financial and…
Seal the Deal: The Art of Selling Companies with M&A Expert Jacob Koenig
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…
Five Reasons Why You Should Do Your Estate Plan
Pausing to reflect and consider a world without you — or a world with an impaired version of you — is not easy. It is also not easy for your loved ones. Implementing an estate plan is like handing a roadmap of your wishes to your friends and family when you are unable to speak…
Overuse of Beneficiary Designations: How They Can Derail a Client’s Estate Plan
“I notice that your account does not have a beneficiary listed, would you like to list one now? Listing a beneficiary can avoid the expense and delay of probate.”
This is a question more and more of our clients are being asked (and encouraged to prepare) by representatives at financial institutions. However, for many of our…
The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Equity: Structuring for Success: Part 2
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…
U.S. Income Taxation of Foreign Trusts – Beware!
In a previous Wiggin and Dana LLP advisory, we addressed what constitutes a “foreign trust” under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).[1] We now explore the tax consequences of a foreign trust, as well as the differences between a foreign grantor trust and a foreign non-grantor trust.
There are many benefits of having…
Launching “Future Focused: Private Wealth Insights”
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…