A number of very important developments occurred last year that will have impact on trusts and estates professionals and their clients and customers in 2003 and beyond. Among the most noteworthy: The mid-term election increased the possibility of...

Demands on family offices have been increasing due to the roiling financial markets, constantly changing tax law and increasing complexity of planning transactions. Some offices have responded in part by becoming multi-family offices, and forming...

Our Trusts & Estates colleague, Russ Alan Prince, has done quite a bit of research about trusts and estates lawyers. He reaches some startling conclusions, and not all are positive. The data paint a picture of an industry in transition, with...

In looking back over the past 15 months, it's hard to believe that so many things have taken place that will impact our business for years to come: a terrorist attack, questions about corporate accountability, a market downturn, states adopting...

The histories of the federal gift and estate taxes have long intertwined. The U.S. Congress introduced the first gift tax in 1924 to plug a hole in the system of estate taxation: Wealthy Americans had begun bestowing gifts during life in efforts...

Traditionally, trusts and estates lawyers have been squeamish about protecting high-net-worth individuals' assets from the cost of long-term health care as avidly as they protect their wealth from the Internal Revenue Service. But all advisors...

Happy new year everyone. 2003 starts with some exciting news: We've added more luminaries to the T&E advisory board, and re-upped many existing members. Joining our charitable giving and philanthropy committee is Karen Putnam of Bessemer Trust...

For the life insurance business, 2002 was a perplexing year, particularly regarding executive benefits and the advanced uses of life insurance in estate planning. The shock of Sept. 11, the economic downturn and the plummeting interest rates...

For some time, there has been a debate at trust companies and private banks over which is the best marketing and service strategy to capture new assets from existing clients: through the specialist approach or the relationship manager. Other...

Most investment management firms are reporting sluggish revenue. Because market values have slipped from previous historical highs, there's been in a drop in fee revenue. Meanwhile, revenue from new investment management clients also is down. The...