Today's Family Offices Pulse
Proposed 5% surtax and lower estate exemption push families to revamp plans
In March 2026, U.S. lawmakers introduced bills to reduce the federal estate‑tax exemption below $15 million and levy a 5% surtax on income exceeding $1 million. Wealth‑management professionals are urging high‑net‑worth families to revisit estate‑planning tactics as the proposals coincide with a broader state‑level tax‑raising trend.
Private Placement Life Insurance Explained
Family Enterprise USA and Winged Keel Group are hosting a free webcast on May 28, 2026 to demystify Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) for affluent families. The one‑hour session will be led by Winged Keel CEO Eric Naison‑Phillips and Principal Mark Richards, who will walk attendees through investment options, the insurance component, integration with broader wealth plans, and compliance best practices. Real‑world case studies will illustrate how PPLI can boost after‑tax investment returns. Registrants gain direct access to leading PPLI experts and actionable insights for their families’ financial strategies.
Proposed 5% Surtax and Lower Estate Exemption Spur New Estate‑Planning Strategies
In March 2026, U.S. lawmakers introduced bills to reduce the federal estate‑tax exemption below $15 million and levy a 5% surtax on income exceeding $1 million. The move has wealth‑management professionals urging high‑net‑worth families to revisit estate‑planning tactics amid a broader state‑level...
UHNW Families Adopt Stewardship Strategies, Says Nour Private Wealth
Nour Private Wealth (NPW) says a growing cohort of ultra‑high‑net‑worth families is moving from pure ownership to stewardship as a guiding principle. The shift emphasizes long‑term purpose, governance and ESG integration to protect wealth across generations in a volatile global...
The Hidden Wealth Strategy Billionaires Use: Farmland
The video features Steve Brewer of People’s Company, a farm‑management firm that grew from a small Iowa bank department into a national platform operating in 35 states. Brewer outlines the firm’s four‑pronged services: farm management for absentee owners, brokerage and...
Family Governance & Family Office Communication | Arnaud De Coninck on Trusted Family
The podcast episode features Arnaud De Coninck discussing Trusted Family, a technology platform built to help multi‑generational family businesses and offices communicate, cooperate and align shareholders across generations. Founded over 15 years ago by Belgian heirs Edward Tissen and Edward Yen, Trusted Family grew alongside...
47-Slide Deck I Share ‘Everything the Family Office Needs to Know About AI’
Angelo Robas, a seasoned family‑office executive, unveiled a 47‑slide deck urging the sector to confront artificial intelligence head‑on. He frames AI adoption as a survival imperative, warning that offices still relying on traditional, keyboard‑centric workflows risk immediate obsolescence. The presentation charts...
Valuing Alternative Assets in PPLI
The video introduces private placement life insurance (PPLI) as a growing tool for high‑net‑worth families seeking to combine investment freedom with tax‑advantaged insurance coverage. Host Darren Joseph interviews attorney‑accountant Alyssa Marie Apple, who explains that PPLI policies can hold alternative...
LLC in Dynasty Trust Generates Cashflow Without Taxable Events
Yes. The LLC inside the dynasty trust can still generate yield. You manage the LLC, pay yourself a salary, and borrow against the assets to pull liquidity without triggering a taxable event. The assets service the debt and grow inside...
Ex‑KPMG Adviser Launches AI‑Powered Advisory Firm Cynren for Wealthy Families
Tony Cowell, a former KPMG hedge‑fund adviser, has founded Cynren, an AI‑centric boutique advisory firm aimed at family offices and ultra‑wealthy individuals. The firm promises faster scenario modelling, real‑time monitoring and direct senior‑level access, positioning itself against the AI roll‑outs...
J.P. Morgan Private Bank Issues 2026 Mid-Year Outlook, Flagging Fragmentation, Inflation and AI
J.P. Morgan Private Bank released its 2026 Mid-Year Global Investment Outlook, "Promise and Pressure," outlining how geopolitical fragmentation, stubborn inflation and artificial intelligence are reshaping portfolios. The report cites soaring defense stocks, a 130% gold rally and low infrastructure exposure...
Wealthy Clients Go Global as Ultra-Rich Fortunes Set to Reach US$84T by End of Decade
A new Altrata‑Arton Capital report finds that one in five ultra‑high‑net‑worth individuals (UHNWIs) were born outside the country where they now live, underscoring a surge in cross‑border wealth creation. The global UHNWI population is projected to grow 33% to 734,100...
Asia’s Wealthy Families Shed Taboo on Succession Planning as US$83 Trillion Changes Hands: UBS
UBS’s Global Next Generation Report, based on over 170 respondents, reveals that nearly two‑thirds of Asian wealthy families now involve the inheriting generation in wealth management early on. The study highlights that 78% of next‑generation clients prioritize networking opportunities when...
Exchange Funds Enable Diversification While Deferring Capital Gains
On the one hand, continuing to hold the security exposes much of the client's portfolio to the risks inherent in investing in a single company. On the other hand, selling the security in order to diversify may trigger significant capital...
William and Harry’s Cousin Named Head of Impact at New Family Office Consultancy
Lexi Bowes‑Lyon, a cousin of Princes William and Harry, has been appointed head of impact at Cynren, a newly launched AI‑powered family‑office consultancy. Cynren, founded by a former KPMG client‑relations head and a Citi Venture Capital International veteran, offers international...
What to Do When UHNW Clients Go Quiet
Advisors are seeing a surge in ultra‑high‑net‑worth families as 526,000 new millionaires emerged in 2024 and UHNW individuals grew 6.2%. These families face escalating complexity, from multi‑jurisdictional tax planning to identity shifts after business sales or inheritances. To...
Diversification Gains Uncertain—Don’t Count on Them
There’s belief among advisers that adding asset classes with low correlation increases return without adding risk. That portfolio benefit is extremely difficult to forecast and can be costly to implement. It’s best not expect a benefit. Great if it happens,...
Family Offices Face Turbulence and Emerging Personal Flyer Era
Today’s Family Office Buzz newsletter • Family office drama at OpenAI • Succession troubles in Hong Kong • No money talk between the family • Conflict economy on the rise • Living Large: The dawn of the personal flyer era https://t.co/YMO8awecwq
Former KPMG Hedge Fund Adviser Launches AI-Driven Advisory Firm for Wealth Families
Tony Cowell, a former KPMG adviser to alternative‑asset managers, has launched Cynren, a boutique advisory firm that builds AI‑enabled tools into every client engagement. The firm uses agentic AI for rapid analysis, scenario modelling and real‑time monitoring while retaining senior...
Legacy Architecture Beats Short‑Term Wealth Management
Building real wealth isn't a quarterly game - it's about decades of smart moves. I've watched family offices transform from money managers into legacy architects. They're not just protecting wealth, they're designing how it flows through generations. This is what...