Wealth Planning

California is a significant force in philanthropy in the United States. In 2001, California's taxpayers contributed $16.5 billion to philanthropy, in a year that saw $122 billion given to charity nationwide. California ranks 10th in the country in...

There comes a time in the life of many wealthy families when selling the family business seems like the right thing to do because no one in the younger generation is interested in taking over or selling means unlocking wealth that will catapult...

Owners of closely held businesses have traditionally used buy-sell agreements to restrict the transfer of interests in their businesses to unwanted third parties, and to establish the price and terms for purchases of interests in their businesses...

For decades, estate planning has been dominated by techniques designed to minimize a confiscatory federal estate tax. But higher exemption levels created by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA)1 have significantly...

Tax planning for estates took a hit in 2001 when the White House decided to repeal the estate tax in 2010. But business is back. As the debate drags on over whether to make that repeal permanent, advisors and investors are deciding it's better to...

Merrill Lynch is taking a radical new look at how retirement and baby boomers are perceived and it could change the way their advisors structure their retirement businesses. A new study from the firm asserts that the oft-predicted baby boomer...

The word carries enough negative connotations that it comes as no surprise when its presence in a conversation about a retiree's future makes all involved uncomfortable. But there's no reason for discomfort on the part of the client or the advisor...

Businesses large and small have found 401(k) retirement plans to be an important benefit to attract and retain a superior workforce. But small-business owners often despite their good intentions rarely find the time or resources to select and...

A recent clarification from the Internal Revenue Service could change the way clients fund their individual retirement accounts and may eventually cut into a rep's IRA-related fees. In a recently released response to a financial firm's inquiry ...

When qualified college savings accounts burst on the scene in the late 1990s, the initial growth exceeded most expectations. Assets in state-sponsored plans continue to soar rising 49 percent last year, according to the Financial Research Corp. At...