This annual update on recent developments in taxation on S corporations from The Tax Adviser includes cases and rulings on eligible shareholders, electing small business trusts, inadvertent S election terminations, and changes made by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. To read the full article in The Tax Advisor, click: Current Developments in S Corporations. ...

The number of reports of financial fraud against older adults has quadrupled since 2013, with 63,500 filed reports describing more than $1.7 billion in actual losses or attempted thefts in 2017, according to a report released by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. To read the full article in McKnight’s Senior Living, click: Financial Elder Fraud Reports Quadruple; Amount Reaches $1.7 Billion. ...

Outsourcing tasks such as technology, compliance and investment management can improve advisers' productivity and efficiency, a study found. Performing due diligence is key when choosing a provider. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: How Advisors Should Approach Outsourcing. ...

The Qualified Opportunity Zone program has the potential to help investors lower their federal capital gains taxes while contributing to the development of areas that need support. Here is a look at several factors to consider, including which gains are eligible for the program and when a 1031 like-kind exchange may be preferable. Want more tips and resources to help with tax reform topics? PFP Section memb ...

Investors are more skeptical today than ever before about the financial advice they’re getting—and of the professionals offering that advice. Of course, it’s not just the financial services industry that has people wary. The government, the news media and corporations are viewed these days with rising suspicion and distrust by a significant number of Americans. To read the full article in Financial Planning ...

In this video, Martin Shenkman, CPA, PFS, and Hugh Magill of Northern Trust, discuss issues that may arise as a result of longer life expectancies and an aging client base. Among other things, they discuss healthcare spending and the changing nature of estate planning. To read the full article in Wealth Management, click: What to Focus on When You Have Older Clients. ...

Sen. Sherrod Brown, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate banking committee, is calling for a hearing on the Securities and Exchange Commission's proposed Regulation Best Interest. He cited a letter from 11 former SEC economists raising concerns about the economic analysis that went into the regulation. To read the full article in Think Advisor, click: Senate Banking Panel Lawmaker Wants Reg BI Hearing ...

Asset managers and banks are under pressure as volatility roils global markets and investors pile into passive, low-fee funds. The $3 trillion hedge fund market has been hit hard as performance sank and funds closed last year. One recruiter thinks more shakeout lays ahead. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: Top Financial Firms Cut Jobs Amid 2019 Market Turmoil. ...

Over my 30-plus year career consulting on technology, I've encountered many mistakes my clients have made regarding hardware, software, and technology in general. As technology has become more integral and complicated, I've seen an increasing number of companies struggle with it. These problems aren't just minor issues; in many cases they could threaten a company's survival. To read the full article in Jour ...

Spotify Technology SA acquired podcasting companies Gimlet Media Inc. and Anchor FM Inc., a declaration that their specialty is the next big area of growth for the world’s largest paid music service. To read the full article in Bloomberg, click: Spotify Bets Big on Podcasting to Power Battle Against Apple. ...

Cerulli Associates estimates that there are just over 300,000 advisors in the U.S. This number has caused some hand-wringing in our industry—and, I’d argue, for the wrong reasons. Despite forecasts suggesting the advisory industry will shrink in the coming years, there’s plenty cause for optimism. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: Why the Market for Advisors has Never Been Better. ...

The surprise split of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie puts advisors on alert: Are you prepared with appropriate retirement and tax advice if your clients divorce? It’s unlikely that Bezos will have to crack open his Amazon 401(k) or IRA to get through this event. But for your average client, that’s exactly where most of their wealth may be. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: ...

Facebook has been in the news quite a bit for its ad targeting over the past year, most notably with reports that the now-defunct Cambridge Analytica used improperly obtained data to develop “personality” profiles on U.S. voters and target ads toward them during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. But many users are still unaware what information Facebook actually collects for ad targeting purposes. To rea ...

The IRS issued proposed regulations that Sec. 956, which requires an income inclusion by U.S. shareholders of controlled foreign corporations (CFCs) that invest in U.S. property, should not apply to corporate shareholders. To read the full article in Journal of Accountancy, click: Proposed Rules Would Exempt Corporate U.S. Shareholders from Sec. 956. ...

Macroeconomic trends and matters of convenience will move advisors, assets, and markets this year in the ever-changing wealth management space. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: 19 Trends to Watch in 2019. ...

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has provided certain advantages for clients, including a 20% deduction for qualified business income and a higher standard deduction. But a cap on deductions for state and local taxes and a different method for determining inflation adjustments could create challenges. "The TCJA has given wealthy taxpayers some interesting changes to their return," noted Scott Kadrlik, CPA, PFS. To ...

Despite the changes that came with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, clients can still claim the child and dependent care tax credit on their 2018 returns. Working parents who paid for day care, summer camp or a babysitter should take advantage of this tax break, which can help them save as much as $1,050 per child below age 13. Those who intend to claim are advised to pay their babysitter legally and remit the ne ...

Millennials are using TDFs more than others. Digital firms are paying attention. Some of the leading RIAs, asset managers and TAMPs updated their retirement packages with new tools to track target-date funds and savings statistics, ultimately giving clients more sophisticated information about their retirement options. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: Why Digital Retirement Tools are T ...

If stock market volatility has drained value from your traditional IRA, this might be a good time to convert the account into a Roth IRA to take advantage of tax-free asset growth. The move may be especially appealing for retirees who have delayed their Social Security benefits and are younger than 70½. To read the full article in CNBC, click: This Failing Market Offers an Opportunity to Cut Your Taxes in R ...

Still, time is limited. Tell clients they’d better take advantage of the current exemption before it expires. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: Thanks to New IRS Decree, Clients Can Relax When Making Large Gifts—For Now. ...