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Monthly Archives: February 2014

We have distilled decades of experience at the intersection of law, business and finance into a suite of articles to help our clients make sense of business valuation, forensic accounting, and litigation support. Please visit our site regularly for our latest content.

What does it really cost to invest in a 401(k) plan? A recent AARP survey found that more than 80% of plan participants did not know the answer to that question.  Most employees have no idea how much their plan is charging. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the information on fees that 401(k) plan sponsors are required by law to disclose is limited and does not provide for an easy comparison among investment options. Annual fees ranging from 3% to 6%–even as some plans still charge 1%–have not been disclosed, and often simply ignored, because, as one attorney who specializes in employment law has said, “everyone was making money.” Fees are one of the biggest issues in the trillion dollar industry, and many believe the industry is long overdue for transparency. According to the Department of Labor’s estimates, a one-percentage point difference in fees reduces overall retirement income by 28% over the course of a lifetime. As it has become increasingly clear that many companies have been breaching their fiduciary duty by offering plans with excessive or hidden fees, employees have an obligation ask the right questions–and have every right to know “What are we paying for, and what are we getting?” Unfortunately, administrative fees usually don’t appear on quarterly or annual statements. It can be quite a challenge for employees  to find out how much in fees they are actually paying out annually; and it has come to light that many people—providers, third -party consultants—are getting generous […]


ATTENTION MATRIMONIAL LAW ATTORNEYS Couples who are involved in a same-sex union have a number of different tax issues that must be addressed that are not applicable to heterosexual married couples. These tax issues will vary depending upon whether the individual couple lives in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage or its equivalent, or whether they live in a state that does not recognize any type of legal union for same-sex couples. When the marriage is recognized by the state, while the couple may have more tax benefits in some cases, more tax issues may arise than exist in situations where no marriage or marriage equivalent is acknowledged on a state level. Because the federal government does not recognize homosexual marriage nor any equivalent thereto as of 2011, some couples may have tax returns and tax identities that differ significantly on the state and federal level.  –Why are there tax issues for same-sex marriages? – What are the differences between federal and state income tax rules? – How should income be claimed? – Can marital assets be transferred or gifted? – How should children be claimed? Please click here to instantly obtain a free copy of this whitepaper.