Triage Tax Planning in the US: Adapting to an Uncertain Tax Bill

The Build Back Better Act recently introduced in the US House of Representatives includes many tax provisions that would significantly impact US taxpayers. However, any major bill’s road from introduction to enactment is typically long, winding, and unpredictable. This note summarizes four tax planning–related questions we view as prime candidates for consideration by US families with substantial wealth, notwithstanding that uncertainty.

September 2021

Case Study: Building an investment strategy to better serve multiple generations

The Whitlock family wealth came from the sale of legacy real estate holdings. In the seven years following the initial liquidity event, the wealth was managed by two investment banks. The family’s portfolio was made up of multiple trusts of different sizes, invested mostly in US stocks, ETFs, Treasuries, and municipal bonds. The investments in […]

August 2021

Building Winning Portfolios Through Private Investments

Building a portfolio that incorporates both private equity and venture capital investments is not straightforward. It requires skill and discipline. In this paper, we review recent private investment performance, discuss how these investments have benefited institutional portfolios, and provide some high-level tips on how to build winning portfolios.

August 2021

Case Study: How a fund portfolio fueled investment opportunities for a family’s total portfolio

The Cervasio family’s wealth was generated by their consulting business, which is now operated by the third generation. Today, an established family office oversees the wealth in accordance with strategic objectives set by the family board. CLIENT BRIEF Client: The Cervasio Family Office Source of wealth: Consulting business Situation: Seeking an advisor for US private […]

May 2021

Case Study: Furthering a family’s ESG mission in a private investments portfolio

For generations, the Liu family has sought to make the world a better, more sustainable place. The patriarch of the family built the Liu’s wealth through a two-tiered approach: first, an investment in a manufacturing venture, and second, investing the proceeds of that venture into building an operating business with an environmental mission. CLIENT BRIEF […]

February 2021

Case Study: Building an enduring partnership with entrepreneurs after the sale of their business

Over the course of 35 years, Laura and Ian Duncan turned a unique opportunity they saw in their industry into a privately owned global enterprise. As they approached their 60s, they were ready to step away from the business to focus on new pursuits, and Laura particularly wanted to devote more time to helping women […]

January 2021

GRAT Expectations: Extra Opportunity in the Current Environment

Grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs) have been a popular and effective wealth transfer strategy for US families in recent decades and are even more compelling now. Despite their advantages, GRATs cannot achieve their full potential without careful analysis of multiple factors, including structuring and investment considerations.

June 2020

Venture Capital Positively Disrupts Intergenerational Investing

Families of wealth face three key questions about intergenerational wealth planning: how best to invest to sustain future generations; how best to engage the next generation; and how best to ensure family unity endures. Often each question is addressed independently. We find that a conversation across generations about the impact of a meaningful venture capital allocation can help address all three questions in an integrated manner.

January 2020