Services

Tax return preparation can be daunting, especially with the frequent law changes initiated by Congress. Southern Wealth Management can provide whatever level of tax compliance service that you are interested in, from complete or partial outsourcing of a family office to addressing specific issues as they arise. In addition to preparing individual and trust tax returns for our clients, our experienced professionals also prepare returns for our clients' related closely held business entities.

Our in-house tax compliance team is among the best in the business for several reasons: knowledge of the complexities of the tax code, experience with sophisticated client requirements, and an unwavering commitment to our clients' complete satisfaction.

Should it ever become necessary, our team can provide effective representation during an IRS or a state tax audit.

Tax planning is a critical component of our integrated approach to providing services. We don't merely look at taxes in a vacuum. Rather, we consider the impact of taxes on all aspects of your financial life, from investment returns to the timing of stock option exercises to managing your cash flow.

Tax issues impact a wide variety of financial decisions you make on a regular basis, from buying or refinancing a home, to funding your retirement, to saving for college in the most tax-efficient manner. In addition to assisting you with these matters, our experienced consultants will help you make the most of your charitable contributions by understanding your personal circumstances and making appropriate recommendations for tax-advantaged charitable-giving vehicles. We will also analyze your situation to minimize the impact of the alternative minimum tax.

Our client base includes current and former executives at Fortune 500 companies as well as entrepreneurs, some of whom have substantial oil and gas, mining, farming, and ranching operations. We have years of experience assisting these clients with forming and restructuring entities such as partnerships, LLCs, and S corporations, and with specialized tax issues such as like-kind exchanges.

You've worked hard to achieve your financial success. Our experienced estate planners will work hard to make sure as much of your wealth as possible passes to your intended beneficiaries - be they children and grandchildren or charitable organizations, or both. Our goal is to help you navigate the complex path toward preserving, maximizing, and transferring your wealth among future generations.

After making sure your basic estate plan is in order, we will explain appropriate tax-efficient wealth transfer and wealth management techniques that are consistent with your family circumstances and financial position, as well as with your overall objectives. No matter what you decide best satisfies your family's current and long-range needs - from an updated will to a family limited partnership to a generation-skipping trust - we will quarterback the process with your other advisors to make certain your desired plan is implemented accurately and in a timely manner.

Our specialized group of valuation practitioners serves a national client base by providing business valuation services for family wealth planning and transfer purposes. The group is somewhat unique by virtue of its in-depth knowledge of the tax laws and valuation factors most relevant to family wealth planning. This knowledge was gained through the many years of experience that our appraisers have in providing individual tax consulting services and litigation support. As a result, we possess a thorough understanding of the various transaction situations faced by individuals.

Valuation services are provided for various types of gift, estate, marital dissolution, and income tax-related purposes, including the following types of valuations:

• Closely held business interests - both operating and passive.
• Compensatory stock options.
• Restricted stock - both registered and unregistered shares.
• Entities created to assist with family asset management, including limited partnerships and limited liability companies.

Owners of closely held family businesses must grapple with difficult questions that revolve around the issue of their eventual retirement. Who's going to assume responsibility for managing the business? How and to whom will ownership be transferred? Will the business continue as a family business or should it be sold?

Business succession planning aims to resolve these and other issues by establishing a plan for a smooth transition between you and the future owners of your business. Succession planning for family businesses can be complicated by the relationships and emotions involved - and by the fact that business owners often have a hard time coming to grips with the concept of giving up control over their business.

At Southern Wealth Management, we can help you analyze and develop a strategy for dealing with the three main issues that are fundamental to succession planning: 1) management succession, 2) transfer of ownership, and 3) minimization of estate taxes and creating liquidity to pay them.

We provide investment counseling from a completely independent perspective with a focus on helping you make informed decisions based on objective advice. We help you take care of the details every step of the way by:

• Determining your financial goals and investment objectives, then formally articulating these objectives in a formal statement of investment policy.
• Designing logical approaches that not only take into account your overall tax situation, but also take advantage of financial planning opportunities.
• Determining the right mix of stocks, bonds, cash, and alternative investments that make the most of your after-tax returns consistent with your individual risk tolerance.
• Finding the right money managers by performing research and due diligence and then helping you select the best ones to operate within your own "customized" portfolio.
• Monitoring the performance of your managers, funds, and other investment vehicles.

Our consolidated reporting and online access offer you the "big picture" of your overall financial situation at any given time. We meet with you regularly to discuss your portfolio's performance and any changes that may have occurred in your personal circumstances or investment objectives.

In addition to basic bookkeeping functions, SWM can provide bill paying services for you or your family. We also provide cash flow projections for clients to assist them in budgeting and managing their investment portfolio.