The term “Wealth Structuring” is not yet common parlance. But High-Net-Worth-Individuals (HNWIs) are very familiar with its overall goals and the mechanisms used to achieve them.
Below you’ll find a brief overview of Wealth Structuring and the qualities and skills required to create bespoke structures.
Purpose
Wealth Structuring is an all-encompassing plan that impacts you, your family, your businesses, and your assets.
In short, it provides a platform that protects your wealth allowing for its continued growth. Your structure will ensure that your wealth is passed to your heirs in a tax efficient manner in accordance with your wishes.
Well-designed structures accomplish these objectives while also providing security and privacy.
Wealth Structuring Brings Together:
- Tax Planning
- Wealth Protection
- Estate Planning
- Family Governance
- Succession Planning
- Citizenship & Residency Planning
Traditionally, these disciplines have been handled by multiple advisors who, strangely enough, rarely interact with one another. This leads to many inefficiencies and unnecessary risks.
An advisor might recommend taking certain actions that might be great for estate tax purposes but terrible for asset protection.
This patchwork approach can be avoided by hiring an advisor that operates like an architect drafting a master plan that achieves the client’s goals and objectives.
The architect/advisor then hires professionals as needed to execute the grand plan by forming entities, drafting contracts, assisting with investments, and other such services.
Not Asset Protection
Wealth Structuring should not be confused with asset protection. It is far more comprehensive and aims to support and improve your lifestyle touching everything from where you live and vacation to your hobbies and interests.
Importantly, Wealth Structures are designed to be multi-generational. They provide guidance and education to the next generation aiming to facilitate personal growth and development while continuing the success of the family business.
Global Plan
Many HNWIs have family and assets in multiple jurisdictions.
Advisors must understand the interplay between different jurisdictions to achieve objectives objectives like tax efficiency and privacy.
Entities Frequently Involved:
- Family Offices
- Private Trust Companies
- Trusts & Foundations
- Holding Structures
- Multinational Business Structures
- Investment Funds
Without a centralized master plan, there can often be overlaps and gaps in terms of the purpose and effectiveness between multiple entities.
Perspective
Your Wealth Structure should secure and improve the lifestyle you’ve already achieved. It is the culmination of your success.
In addition to protecting your wealth and passing it on to the next generation, your Wealth Structure should improve your life including the many intangibles that cannot be measured and tallied on a spreadsheet.
Start From Scratch or Re-Structure
For help designing a Wealth Structure or modifying your existing one, contact us and our team will be in the touch soon.