New England Update - Chistopher Suh, Panelist, The American College of Trusts & Estates 2024 New England Regional Meeting, The Hilton Mystic CT,October 18 - 20, 2024
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Guidance on the New Massachusetts Estate Tax Law & Forms
Guidance on the New Massachusetts Estate Tax Law & Forms - Christopher Suh, panelist, MCLE New England live webcast, Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 9:30 to 10:30 AM (EDT) - Click here for...
Massachusetts has Increased its Estate Tax Exemption to $2,000,000
By Regina Snow Mandl Massachusetts has raised the estate tax exemption from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000, retroactively to January 1, 2023. As a result, for decedents dying after 2022 who have a...
What All Estate Planners Need to Know About Cohabitation & Prenuptial Agreements
What All Estate Planners Need to Know About Prenuptial & Cohabitation Agreements - Christopher Suh, panelist, MCLE New England live CLE webcast, November 6, 2023, 9:00 - 11:00 AM (EDT) - Click...
The Wagner Law Group Ranked Among the Largest Women-Owned Businesses in Massachusetts
The Wagner Law Group Ranked Among the Largest Women-Owned Businesses in Massachusetts - March 15, 2023
The Largest Women-Owned Businesses in Massachusetts
The Largest Women-Owned Businesses in Massachusetts - Boston Business Journal, February 24, 2023
Fiduciary Litigation Year in Review
Fiduciary Litigation Year in Review - Christopher Suh, panelist, Boston Probate & Estate Planner Forum seminar, Union Club, Boston, MA, February 1, 2023
Family Law Trilogy 2023 – Fiduciary Litigation Year in Review
Family Law Trilogy 2023 - Fiduciary Litigation Year in Review - Christopher Suh, panelist, Social Law Library live CLE webinar, January 25, 2023, 4:00 - 6:00 PM (EST) - Click here for details
Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts
Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts - Boston Globe, October 28, 2022 (PDF)
“Lawyers Who Care” Podcast – Regina Mandl Interviewed
"Lawyers Who Care" Podcast - Regina Mandl interviewed, July 14, 2022
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Taxpayers Beware
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Taxpayers Beware: Don’t Let a Mismatch between Your State’s Tax Laws and the Federal Rules for Deducting Contributions Result in Overpaying Your State Tax...
Event – Recent Developments in Estate Planning, Trust and Estate Administration, and Fiduciary Litigation
Recent Developments in Estate Planning, Trust and Estate Administration, and Fiduciary Litigation - Christopher Suh, panelist, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) 23rd Annual Estate...
Regina Snow Mandl Named a Massachusetts Trusts and Estates “Go To Lawyer”
Regina Snow Mandl Named a Massachusetts Trusts and Estates “Go To Lawyer” Click here to read press release Click here to read Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Trusts and Estates "Go to Lawyers"...
Primer on the Code’s Required Minimum Distribution Rules: Post-SECURE Act
Attorney Chrisotopher Suh Joins The Wagner Law Group
COVID-19 Resource Center
Below is a collection of vital COVID-19 resources that we have assembled to assist during this difficult time: ANNOUNCEMENTS The Wagner Law Group Creates COVID-19 Rapid Response Team and Resource...
The Wagner Law Group Announces New Florida Estate Planning Resources
Attorney Jay Beskin Joins The Wagner Law Group
More Investors Qualify to Purchase Unregistered Securities… But What Will the Expanded Definition of “Accredited Investor” Really Change for BDs and RIAs?
By Kimberly Shaw Elliott Registered representatives and investment adviser representatives may soon purchase for themselves the unregistered products they recommend to other investors, without proof...
Divorce in the Age of Corona, Part 1: Parenting Plans
Parents who were in the midst of the divorce process when the pandemic began, or who have only recently decided to separate, recognize that the parenting arrangements they develop for today may not...
What You Need to Know About the SEC’s New Form CRS
On June 30, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) new “relationship summary,” known as Form CRS, took effect. Form CRS — which broker-dealers and SEC-registered investment advisers...
The Wagner Law Group Expands its Trusts and Estates Practice in Florida and Missouri
Silver Lining: Advisors Can Urge Clients to Give More to Charity
Planning in the Age of a Pandemic: Estate Planning and CARES Act Considerations
Planning in the Age of a Pandemic: Estate Planning and CARES Act Considerations – Regina Mandl and Barry Salkin, The Wagner Law Group Free Webinar, May 6, 2020, 2:00 PM (ET) –Recording available...
Remote Online Notarization Becomes Law in Massachusetts During COVID-19 Emergency
On April 27, 2020, the Virtual Notarization Act (the “Act”) was signed into law by Massachusetts Governor, Charlie Baker, and was effective immediately. The Act allows Massachusetts notaries, using...
REG BI Compliance Deadline; Financial Relief Considerations for RIA Firms
By Stephen Wilkes, Livia Quan Aber and Seth Gaudreau I. The SEC Will Not Delay Reg BI and Form CRS Compliance Date Last week, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Chairman, Jay...
PANDEMIC and Broker-Dealer/Recordkeepers and Advisors… Chances Are, Your Business Continuity Plan Did Not Fully Address This…
By Stephen Wilkes, Kimberly Shaw Elliot and Seth Gaudreau In uncertain times like these where the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 seems to be impacting everything, broker-dealers, investment advisory...
The SECURE Act’s Impact on Estate Planning and Administration
Recording available here
SEC Proposed Amendments to Advertising and Solicitation Rules
In early November 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") released proposed amendments to the advertising rule and solicitation rule under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ("Advisers...
Regina Snow Mandl Appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court to the Position of Vice Chair of the Clients’ Security Board
Regina Snow Mandl Appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court to the Position of Vice Chair of the Clients’ Security Board - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, February 7, 2020
The Impact of the SECURE Act on Estate Planning and Administration
Just before the end of 2019, the "SECURE Act," a bill that includes many changes to the federal tax code that apply to qualified retirement plans, such as a 401(k) or IRA, ("retirement assets") was...
Regina Snow Mandl Appointed Vice Chair of Massachusetts Clients’ Security Board
Massachusetts Advances Regulations Imposing Fiduciary Duty on Broker-Dealers
In November 2019, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts issued revised regulations imposing a fiduciary standard upon broker-dealers, although the regulations would not apply to a broker-dealer who is a...
Follow-up on SEC Guidance Regarding Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisors
On June 5th, the SEC issued a four-part package of guidance with respect to the activities of broker-dealers and investment advisors. We prepared an Investment Management Law Alert focusing on one...
SEC Issues Final Regulation BI
The SEC, by a 3-1 party line vote, issued in a timely fashion its final regulations with respect to broker-dealer conduct, referred to as Regulation Best Interest ("Regulation BI"). The SEC's...
IRS Releases Round Two of Proposed Regulations for Qualified Opportunity Funds
On April 17, 2019, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") issued the second round of proposed regulations with respect to qualified opportunity funds ("QOFs"). While the first round of proposed...
U.S. Supreme Court Finds Non-“Makers” Can Violate Rule 10b-5
On March 27, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Lorenzo v. SEC, No. 17-1077 (U.S. Mar. 27, 2019) that a party who is not a “maker” under Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b-5(b) can...
Using Required Minimum Distributions to Make Charitable Contributions – Some Things That You Need to Know
If you are 70½ years of age or older, have a standard IRA and are interested in making qualified charitable distributions, the following will be of interest to you. By making donations directly...
Nevada Issues Proposed Regulations Regarding Fiduciary Standards
While the SEC works on finalizing its proposed Regulation Best Interest, there continues to be significant activity at the state level that will cover, in varying degrees, the same subject matter....
Holiday Parties: Celebrate Safely!
Recording available here
Estate Planning for Surviving Spouses: What to Do ASAP
Estate Planning for Surviving Spouses: What to Do ASAP - Regina Mandl, Kiplinger, September 18, 2018
OCIE Identifies Common Deficiencies Relating to Best Execution
On July 11, 2018, the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations ("OCIE") of the Securities and Exchange Commission published a Risk Alert relating to best execution deficiencies on the part...
Recent DOL Settlement Agreements with ESOP Trustees
The spate of recent settlements between the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") and trustees of employee stock ownership plans ("ESOP") is a signal that trustees and other fiduciaries should reassess...
Recent FINRA Notices Seek Comment on Proposed Amendment to Quantitative Suitability and Efficacy of Supervision Rule
On the heels of the Security and Exchange Commission's (the "Commission") April 18, 2018 release of the proposed Regulation Best Interest rule package ("Regulation BI") (which was covered in our...
DOL Issues Temporary Enforcement Policy with Respect to Investment Advice Fiduciaries
Today, the Department of Labor ("DOL") issued Field Assistance Bulletin 2018-02 (the "FAB"), which indicates that both the DOL and the IRS will continue to rely upon its previously announced...
Another Win for the Plan Fiduciary – Fifth Circuit Follows Dudenhoeffer Standards in RadioShack Case
On February 6, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Singh v. RadioShack Corp. aligned with the Second Circuit and affirmed the dismissal of Plaintiffs' proposed class action. The...
New Associations
New Associations - Regina Mandl, MA Lawyers Weekly, April 26, 2018
SEC Proposes Three Related Releases on Retail Investor Matters
I. Introduction After a delay of almost eight years from the date that the SEC is authorized under the Dodd-Frank Act to provide for fiduciary standards for broker-dealers and investment advisers,...
New Wagner Law partner to head new Lincoln office
New Wagner Law partner to head new Lincoln office - Wicked Local, April 11, 2018
How the TCJA Could Drive You to Divorce
How the TCJA Could Drive You to Divorce – Regina Mandl, Tax Notes, March 12, 2018
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; The New Federal Divorce Law
This article, authored by Regina Mandl, Esq. and quoting Barry Salkin, Esq., was published in the February 26, 2018 issue of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. I never have had a client who has said that...
FINRA Rules Going into Effect in 2018
There are a host of new and amended rules promulgated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") that will be going into effect throughout 2018. This Alert summarizes these impending...
Massachusetts Securities Division Files Suit to Enforce Fiduciary Rule
In a recent Alert, we discussed how several states are charting their own course while the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") proceeds with its review of the Fiduciary Rule, the Best Interest Contract...
SEC Offers Amnesty Under Share Class Selection Disclosure Initiative
In our January 18, 2018 Law Alert on share class selection, we expressed our opinion that share class selection is likely to remain an enforcement focus for the Security and Exchange Commission (the...
Tax Reform: Unintended Consequences for Broker-Dealers
The "Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018" (the "Tax Act") - formerly known as The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act -...
Recent Developments – States Proceed with Their Own Fiduciary or “Best Interest” Standards
States Proceed with Their Own Fiduciary or "Best Interest" Standards While the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") continues with its mandated review of the Fiduciary Rule and related exemptions,...
Regulatory Focus on Share Class Selection in 2018
In recent years, the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations ("OCIE") of the Security and Exchange Commission ("Commission") has increasingly scrutinized share class selection by...
Exes and Taxes
Exes and Taxes – Regina Mandl, Associated Press, December 22, 2017
FINRA Shares Examination Findings
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently released the results of its exam program to assess compliance with securities rules and regulations. FINRA conducts cyclical examinations...
FINRA’s New Qualification and Registration Rules Effective October 1, 2018
Last month, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved a new set of rules proposed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) intending to consolidate and simplify...
Calculating Regulatory Assets Under Management
A question we frequently receive from our advisory firm clients is whether they are accurately calculating and reporting regulatory assets under management ("RAUM"). RAUM, as a metric, was first...
BICE and Related Exemptions: Limiting Your Liability Until Full Implementation
Background - Transition Period May be Extended Until July 1, 2019 The DOL recently proposed to extend the transition period by 18 months (i.e., from January 1, 2018 to July 1, 2019) for the full...
Cybersecurity Guidance Update from SEC
On April 28, 2015, the SEC Division of Investment Management issued guidance with regard to cybersecurity issues for both registered investment companies and registered investment advisers. (IM...