Estate planners should anticipate family infighting before it turns into a costly legal battle.

When I lived with my first husband prior to marriage, my father was concerned about his daughter “living in sin.” Fast-forward 20 years when I got engaged to my second husband.

Various strategies can help the ultra-affluent manage their concentrated stock positions.  

Will passing on your wealth be a blessing or a curse to your family? Watching the antics of spoiled rich kids is daily entertainment for much of America’s television audience, and most of us are so far removed from their world, we have little empathy for their problems. But imagine dealing with a self-image as reflected by the paparazzi and living under the microscope of a press corps eager to broadcast your every misstep. Unless you keep a low profile, you risk becoming the family laughing stock.

A home in the south of France, a seaside condo in Cabo San Lucas, or a ranch in Argentina—this is typical fare for the wealthy client, and it adds complexity to tax, estate, protection and cash management planning. As an advisor, it’s hard enough to keep up with U.S. tax and legal developments, without adding international issues to the mix. But your client will need experts on both sides of the border who are willing to communicate and coordinate with each other.