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Welcome to the Wealth Strategies Journal, your resource for extraordinary client service. Our mission is to provide you with the resources you need on estate planning and taxation, asset protection, business succession planning, fiduciary issues, high net worth families and family offices, insurance, investments, marketing, multigenerational values, philanthropy and retirement benefits.

Features

Split-Dollar Arrangements for Life Insurance – An Overview
Martin M. Shenkman, CPA, JD, MBA and Richard L. Harris, CLU, AEP
A Split-dollar arrangement is a way of funding the purchase of life insurance between two parties.  It is not an insurance policy.  In split-dollar, one party provides the majority of the funding while the other party controls most of the death benefit.

Determining the Appropriate Income Withdrawal Rate for a Portfolio: The Crossover Rate
Edward A. Moses, Ph.D, J. Clay Singleton, Ph.D., and Stewart A. Marshall III, Esq.
Roger’s wife had died six months ago and her death necessitated a new will and a complete review of his estate plan. Roger decided to consult with his trusted financial consultant, Rick Hetterington.  During their conversation, Rick requested Roger send to him a copy of the trust document and the trust’s proposed IPS.  Rick promised to provide Roger an analysis within the next three weeks. This article traces the thought process Rick followed to construct his recommendations.

What Trustees Should Know about Asset Management Approaches and Rebalancing Elections
Patrick J. Collins, Ph.D., CLU, CFA and Josh Stampfil, MS (EESOR)
This article argues that, although rebalance strategy is a critical bridge between asset allocation and trust distribution policy, there appears to be no universally optimal rule of thumb regarding either asset management approaches or the rebalance strategies designed to maintain them.

Tax Return Preparer Penalties
James E. McNair, Gregory J. Rupert, Cynthia L. Gausvik, Eric C. Wang and William A. MacDonald
This article (i) analyzes the standards of practice a preparer was obligated to adhere to under the old Section 6694, (ii) describes the more stringent standards imposed by the revised statute, (iii) address potential conflicts of interest between preparers and taxpayers, and (iv) discusses practical issues that arise in complying with the stringent new rules.