Benjamin Walter

Two and a half thousand years ago, Solon, the Athenian wise man and lawgiver, visited the wealthiest king of his time, Croesus of Lydia (now Turkey). 1 This is the same Croesus from whom we get the expression “rich as Croesus.” Croesus showed off his fantastic wealth to Solon, and then asked him, “Who is the most […]

Choosing an estate planning attorney is a significant decision that will impact you and your heirs. Everyone agrees on the need for a competent estate planning attorney, but how do you determine who is right for you? This article explores what to look for in an attorney’s education, experience, teamwork with other experts, staff support, […]

The Wyoming Qualified Spendthrift Trust is a kind of asset protection trust. Asset protection trusts can often benefit high-net-worth individuals. However, they are especially beneficial for professional practitioners such as physicians and attorneys, who are often exposed to personal liability in the provision of their services. Not many states provide favorable asset protection trust legislation. […]

Clients rely on their estate planning attorneys to guide them in what to consider when developing their estate plan.  The usual discussions are centered around how best to provide for beneficiaries and who should be in charge of things when they can no longer manage their affairs due to incapacity or death.  Without proper guidance […]

There are various kinds of power of attorney (POA). Knowing which to use is critical in making sure your goals are accomplished.  For purposes of this article, we will focus on “financial” powers of attorney.  Financial powers of attorney deal with a person’s assets or financial matters. This includes contract powers, signing authority, and dealing with third […]

The previous article on intentional philanthropy focused on the reasons for giving and the importance of giving well. In this part, we’ll look at how to construct and implement a strategy for intentional philanthropy.  A Values Statement A family may have a good reason or reasons for their charitable giving. However, it is important that […]

Most people learn at a young age that it feels good to give to others. Many people have been taught by parents, teachers, or mentors that “it is better to give than to receive.” Some people attach a moral or spiritual significance to giving. However, the act of giving itself can be quite complex, involving […]

Most people think of an estate plan as a legal solution for financial matters. However, health care considerations are incredibly important to any estate plan.  Health care considerations will help you and your loved ones decide what to do when you may be incapacitated by illness or age, but not deceased. Life spans have increased due […]

There are a number of books that address the unique ecosystem of the family office. Any discussion of family office administration has to consider the complex relationships between elder and rising generations, trustees and beneficiaries, advisors and family members. The following books are not the only books on the subject, nor are they ranked in […]

Many ultra-high-net-worth families have heard of the benefits of establishing a private trust company to serve as trustee of their trusts. (We prefer “private family trust company” or “PFTC”) . However, they might not understand the nuanced best practices on forming a PFTC. This blog explores some of the legal and structural issues that families […]