Knowing the best strategy to recommend to families in every financial situation requires either an encyclopedic knowledge of tax, investment, and legal matters or a crystal ball. The former can take decades to accumulate, and the latter is even...

The countdown to dooms—uhh, the deadline for complying with repeal of the broker/dealer rule is creeping onward with less than 10 days left. Since the court ruling in March, some of Wall Street’s largest firms have been grappling to...

It sure is a great time to be an advisor to the fabulously wealthy. There are so many of them. Consider this: since 1995, the number of millionaire households in the United States has more than doubled. "Never before had so many Americans become...

Earlier this month, Congress passed a bill meant to lower the cost of college tuition while simultaneously providing greater access to college. This bill, which is awaiting President Bush’s signature, would slash interest rates on student...

Gary Rathbun has never done much 401(k) business, but with the Pension Protection Act trumpeting fee disclosure and fiduciary liability, Rathbun felt the opportunity was too great to miss.

Most investment advisors face SEC audits and examinations with dread. After all, the SEC has beefed up its registered investment advisor (RIA) exams in the past year or so, increased its inspection budget and is working towards increasing the...

Owners of closely held businesses have long sought ways to buy the interest of an owner who dies. They also have sought ways to enjoy the business' success financially while avoiding estate tax upon their death. A new private letter ruling...

Consider a not uncommon scenario. The date is Jan. 1, 2008. Bob Savvy is the sole shareholder of Family Fortune, Inc., an S corporation. Family Fortune was recently appraised at $10 million, but the investment bankers Bob has spoken to believe...

Estate planners need to identify Internal Revenue Code Section 409A issues when advising executives and professionals who participate in nonqualified deferred compensation plans. The final regulations' effective date Jan. 1, 2008 is fast...

Retirement benefits present unique challenges to the fiduciary of a decedent's estate. In fact, an executor may have to grapple with three scenarios in the context of a decedent's individual retirement account (IRA) or other retirement plan: (1)...