Today the Securities Exchange Commission announced Morgan Stanley will pay $7.96 million and penalties to settle the SEC’s charges against the firm for failing to provide best execution to clients. More specifically, the SEC charged Morgan...
Screen of the Week: Kevin Matras outlines a strategy for how to trade the Zacks Rank in a very practical manner for almost anyone’s portfolio. Learn how this filtered Zacks Rank can help you pick the best of the Zacks #1’s; trading...
The final split-dollar regulations that were effective as of Sept. 17, 2003 (T.D. 9092) became the operative guidance for arrangements that either were implemented after this date or that existed before Sept. 17, 2003 but were materially modified...
A lot of advisors, even the most reputable, groan when the word is uttered. Let's talk ethics, is like being told, Let's eat steamed broccoli. Sure, it's good for you, but yech. Well, if you want spice, look at the headlines. There have been lots...
True story: a decedent's trust had been named beneficiary of an individual retirement account (IRA.) While the trust beneficiaries were busy arguing over who was going to get what piece of the trust, the trustee, who was the decedent's surviving...
Do you know how many of your clients own non-qualified deferred annuities?1 Does their estate planning consider how those annuities are subject to different tax and non-tax rules than other assets? These differences create both planning...
Whenever a client wants to cap gift tax exposure, planners should consider using a defined-value clause implemented by use of an escrow trust. A defined-value clause limits the quantity of assets gifted or sold until a final determination of value...
For years, advisors have gone blissfully along in their planning for families and business owners, devising wonderfully helpful trusts and solving liquidity needs with the use of life insurance. Often these techniques are combined, especially in...
At some point in the life of a private foundation (PF), it may be advantageous to transfer most or all of its assets to one or more other PFs. The most common reasons are to enable a PF's board members with incompatible objectives to pursue their...
Most people would like some life insurance. Problem is, no one really wants to pay for it. So, since the beginning of time, life insurance professionals have sought creative sources to pay for premiums, the brass ring being to find money that is...