The Fifth Deadly Sin that Can Undermine High-Net Worth Families
Fifth Deadly Sin: Not Utilizing Technology and Resources to…
- Do current income tax planning
- Do current cash flow planning (efficient payment of large obligations like estimated income taxes, trust distributions, and life insurance premium payments.
- Quantify estate tax liquidity needs and plans for payment.
- Prepare timely trust accountings (remember, where there’s a will there’s a way… to go to court!).
- File income tax returns WITHOUT EXTENDING (gasp, you mean I’m allowed to file on time???).
Technology, like tax planning programs and application service providers (“ASP”) and resources like outsourced accounting companies, make it possible in the 21st century to have “real time” access to financial data.
Consider the client whose 2007 federal tax was $11,000,000. His CPA, who was stuck in the 20th century, set up his 2008 estimates as follows (see chart below). One of his other advisors, who set the client up with “real time” access to financial data pointed out that by looking at quarterly financial data estimated tax payments could be made for 2008 based on actual ongoing results (not just 2007 tax times 110%) with the following results:
| 2007 tax “x” 110% | 2008 results | |
| 1st Quarter 2008 | 3,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 2nd Quarter 2008 | 3,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| 3rd Quarter 2008 | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
| 4th Quarter 2008 | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
GOOD AND TIMELY RECORDKEEPING IS CRITICAL. Yup, that’s $3,000,000 not expected. All because of “ASP” and “outsourced accounting.” By the way, final 2008 tax was $8,700,000… talk about a down year….
The moral of this story: always apply the “first rules of holes.” That is, when you’re in one, stop digging.
Next Blog: Sixth Deadly Sin: The “Do It Yourself” Private Foundation
