GEMs Podcast

There are several strategies to consider when looking to save on income taxes. One strategy involves lessening your amount of gross income, which comprises five methods, or pillars: deferral, exclusion, elimination, offsetting, and character of income. In this podcast, Tom Kelley, national director of income tax planning for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advisory,® offers his insights on how each of these pillars...

The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to reflect and reassess. And, for many, it’s also about making resolutions for personal improvement. But don’t forget about your financial health. Ensuring your wealth plan is in order is one of the most impactful ways to set yourself up for financial success and peace of mind this year. Alvina Lo, chief wealth strategist for Wilmington  Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, offer...

The stage is set for this year’s presidential election. Regardless of who wins the election, reviewing the scheduled expiration of certain tax code provisions enacted as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will likely be an initial priority. What might this mean for the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax exemption; the qualified business income deduction; and individual income tax rates? In this podcast, Josh Lan...

Estate planning can be complex, and many people want to do everything they can to ensure both their assets and their heirs are successful. One of the best ways to achieve this goal is to engage your entire family in the process. But when is the right time to bring the conversation up? Who should be involved? What should be shared? Listen as Alexa Broida, family legacy advisor for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advis...

As many successful families have learned over time, having a family wealth education plan in place for family members can be very empowering for the next generation. And when heirs feel empowered and engaged in the family’s legacy, a smooth transfer of wealth can result. Listen as Allison Pierce, wealth strategist for Wilmington Trust Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, discusses how giving family members a foundational knowledg...

Long-term financial planning considerations, family legacy concerns, income and estate tax ramifications, transaction structuring, community and workforce impact, legal documentation, along with the reality—and finality—of “letting go” typically make a business transition one of the most difficult things a business owner will ever do. Listen as Stuart Smith III, national director of Business Value Strategies for Wilmington Trust’s ...

It often requires an intentional effort from parents to uncover and take advantage of moments during a child’s upbringing to incorporate financial discussions and lessons. Listen as Jerry Inglet, senior family legacy advisor for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, discusses how to leverage the preparation and decisions connected to choosing and paying for college for two purposes: helping to create an informed...

For many entrepreneurs, selling a business is uncharted territory. Not surprisingly, engaging the right team of experienced advisors to assist in the transaction may elevate their chances of success. Listen as Stuart Smith, national director of Business Value Strategies for Wilmington Trust Emerald Family Office & Advisory,® discusses the value of hiring experienced advisors who have been to this “rodeo” before—and understand t...

Understanding state residency rules as an income tax planning strategy may be important for people who live in more than one state. But these rules can be complicated and tend to vary across states. Moreover, the state residency rules for trusts can be even more complex. In this podcast, Tom Kelley, national director of Income Tax Planning for Wilmington Trust Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, deciphers some of the tests state...

There are good reasons a family may consider changing the terms of an irrevocable trust. For instance, maybe there has been a change in a beneficiary’s ability to manage family resources, or perhaps a new trustee was named. Fortunately, “irrevocable” does not necessarily mean set in stone. In this podcast, Jeff Wolken, national director of Delaware Trust Planning for Wilmington Trust Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, discusses...

Discussing wealth and legacy plans with family can be challenging and somewhat uncomfortable, especially when family members disagree about the goals. However, having open communication about the family’s heartfelt values and aspirations can help sustain a desired legacy through future generations. In this podcast, Julie Weiss, national director of Family Office Experience for Wilmington Trust Emerald Family Office & Advisory®,...

Business owners, tax planners, and anyone who works with business entities should understand the new obligations they will face next year under the Corporate Transparency Act—the most significant anti-money-laundering legislation since the Patriot Act in 2001. In this podcast, Kerry Reeves, director of Wealth Strategies for Wilmington Trust Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, offers a brief overview of the new filing requirement...

When retirees pass away before using all the assets in their retirement plans, the remaining funds in those accounts typically pass to a named beneficiary. In certain instances, naming a trust as beneficiary of the plan may be the most prudent course of action, particularly if the retiree wants oversight of the funds for the benefit of a minor child or disabled beneficiary. In this podcast, Wealth Planning Team Leader Matthew Manci...

Parents with multiple children often grapple with issues around fairness and equality when structuring their estate plans. With intentional thought and communication, and sometimes a third-party facilitator, parents can strive to achieve their wishes where intentions are understood and negative impacts for a family are reduced as inheritances are discussed and executed. In this podcast, Family Legacy Advisor Jerry Inglet of Wilming...

There are many different vehicles for charitable giving that can help support your objectives and create a philanthropic legacy. Charitable giving is an important discussion to have with your advisors to determine whether your charitable giving is best done individually or through a trust, a private foundation, donor advised fund, or another entity. In this podcast, Director of Wealth Strategies Kerry Reeves discusses the differenc...

The new SECURE Act 2.0, which passed into law last month, may have far reaching implications on retirement planning in the U.S. This “sequel” legislation builds upon many of the themes found in the prior Act, such as expanding access to retirement accounts in cases of hardship and moving the age when required minimum distributions begin. In this podcast, learn some of the more notable changes from SECURE Act 2.0 and their implicati...

The location, or situs, of someone’s personal trust may have a significant impact on how the trust is taxed and the flexible laws available to facilitate ongoing administration. Changing a trust’s situs can be as easy as changing the trustees to a more favorable location. Listen as Jeffrey Wolken, national director of Delaware Trust Planning Strategies for Wilmington Trust’s Emerald Family Office & Advisory®, discusses why the ...

For many individuals, the purchase of life insurance is designed to mitigate risks including replacing income in the event of a premature death, leaving a legacy for heirs, and providing a source of liquidity for the payment of estate taxes. For those focused on the last of those risks – providing a source of liquidity for estate taxes – it can be particularly beneficial to consider using an irrevocable life insurance trust to own ...