TRUSTS, FOUNDATIONS & PRIVATE INVESTMENT COMPANIES

If you’re concerned about estate taxes, achieving tax efficiencies and avoiding probate delays, a family trust or a foundation may be the answer. These legal structures can reduce the tax burden on your beneficiaries, shield your wealth from certain legal issues and streamline the distribution of wealth to your heirs when the time comes.

Family Trusts, including:

• GSTs (Generation Skipping Trusts)
• Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts
• Special Needs Trusts
• Bypass Trusts
• Living Trusts

Private Investment Companies (PICs)

Often used as a long-term investment vehicle, it enables a shareholder or director to open an account that can hold a wide array of liquid financial assets, as well as life insurance policies, real estate, yachts and fine art - with assets located almost anywhere in the world. PICs serve to protect the investor’s privacy as well as provide inheritance tax planning opportunities.

Family Foundations and Donor Advised Funds

Today we are helping many clients set up private family foundations, or donor advised funds (DAF), with relatively moderate initial contributions. We’ll work with you to determine which approach makes sense for your particular situation and will assist in establishing the foundation or DAF. By 2050, wealthy families in the U.S. will have transferred about $6 trillion to the next generation, much of which will be earmarked for charitable giving. Philanthropy is at the forefront of many of our clients’ estate plans.