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Five Money Beliefs I Had to Unlearn—and What Replaced Them
Wealth failures usually trace back to one bad core belief, not one bad market call. Here are the five beliefs I had to unlearn—and the one-page policies that replaced them. 1) “More tickers = diversification.” Reality: count is irrelevant if everything points to the same risk. Run instead: a Concentration Policy—single-name, top-10, and sector caps; track HHI monthly. 2) “Fees matter more than taxes.” Reality: over a 30-year horizon, tax drag usually dwarfs fees. Run instead:

Anatoly Iofe
Sep 14, 20251 min read


The 1-Page Distribution Policy (Pay Yourself Right)
Many families overpay taxes because withdrawals are ad hoc. Here’s a one-page Distribution Policy you can actually run: order, bands, and rules that cut tax drag. What this solves: Ad-hoc withdrawals create three silent costs: Selling the wrong lot at the wrong time, Tripping avoidable brackets/IRMAA, Carrying too little cash and selling into drawdowns. A written Distribution Policy fixes that. The policy—on one page 1) Order of withdrawals (default): Taxable → T

Anatoly Iofe
Sep 7, 20252 min read


Understanding American Recessions: What History Teaches Us
A clear look at economic downturns and what they mean for your financial future What Exactly Is a Recession? Let's start with the basics....

Anatoly Iofe
Sep 2, 20253 min read


The Global Tax Burden: Which Countries Offer the Best (and Worst) Deals for taxpayers?
Taxes are a universal reality, but the amount citizens pay varies dramatically across the globe. Is the key to prosperity low taxes and...

Anatoly Iofe
Aug 31, 20253 min read


Is the U.S. Economy Stronger Than It Looks?
The U.S. economy has defied many forecasts. Even after aggressive interest rate hikes, growth has remained positive, unemployment near...

Anatoly Iofe
Aug 29, 20253 min read


Estate Equalization: Making Inheritance Fair Without Splitting What Shouldn’t Be Split
When families think about passing on wealth, the focus is usually on numbers: how much each child will receive, or how taxes can be...

Anatoly Iofe
Aug 28, 20254 min read


The Strategy of Maximum Funding Life Insurance: Pros, Cons, and Best Uses
Most people think of life insurance in the simplest way: you pay premiums, and your loved ones receive a death benefit when you pass...

Anatoly Iofe
Aug 27, 20253 min read


Fed Rate Cuts Don’t Guarantee Lower Bond Yields
It’s easy to assume that when the Fed cuts interest rates, bond yields automatically fall. The reality is more complicated. Long-term...

Anatoly Iofe
Aug 26, 20252 min read


Fed's Pivot Too Late? Analyzing Powell's Jackson Hole Message
The markets erupted in celebration following Fed Chair Jerome Powell's Jackson Hole speech, but the underlying reality suggests this...

Anatoly Iofe
Aug 24, 20254 min read


Everything You Wanted to Know About Bitcoin (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Bitcoin—and the wider world of cryptocurrency—remains a rapidly evolving topic in finance, attracting both interest and healthy...

Anatoly Iofe
Aug 21, 20252 min read


Estate Equalization: Keeping the Cabin and the Kids
Estate Equalization: Keeping the Cabin and the Kids 1. What’s the Real Problem? When a family owns an illiquid, lopsided asset—think a...

Anatoly Iofe
Aug 7, 20253 min read


The Human Factor: Why wealth fails more from silence than markets
An often-cited multi-decade study of affluent families found most lose substantial wealth by Gen-2 and even more by Gen-3—less from markets, more from gaps in trust, communication, and readiness (see Williams & Preisser’s Preparing Heirs for background). Don’t make this abstract. Fix the human layer first. Start here: run quarterly wealth huddles while the patriarch/matriarch is alive. Keep it simple: a one-page net worth, a values statement, and open Q&A. When disc

Anatoly Iofe
Aug 5, 20252 min read


UK–US Double-Tax Treaty in 2025: What It Solves—and What It Doesn’t
The treaty allocates taxing rights. It doesn’t erase tax. For UK–US families, the traps are residency, pensions, and the U.S. savings...

Anatoly Iofe
Aug 4, 20254 min read


🌐 Nine Jurisdictions Everyone Talks About for 2025 Incorporations—A Reality Check
For founders, family offices, and mobile professionals who think “offshore” automatically means zero tax and easy banking—read this...

Anatoly Iofe
Jul 21, 20254 min read


Why 70% of Wealthy Families Lose Their Wealth by Gen 2—and How to Avoid It
A 20-year global study of more than 3,000 families revealed a staggering truth: 70% of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second...

Anatoly Iofe
Jul 14, 20253 min read


When “Permanent” Isn’t Permanent
New tax rules sound good. But here’s what really matters for your wealth. Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) , which...
barmaley13
Jul 7, 20253 min read


Happy 4th of July!
🎆 Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸 Wishing you a relaxing and meaningful Independence Day filled with good food, great company, and a reminder of...
barmaley13
Jul 3, 20251 min read


10 Costly Mistakes Business Owners Make When Bringing Their Kids Into the Family Business
For many entrepreneurs, the business they’ve built isn’t just a source of income—it’s a legacy. A testament to decades of sacrifice, grit, and ambition. Naturally, many dream of passing it on to their children. But when it comes to succession, intention isn’t enough. Execution is everything.

Anatoly Iofe
Jul 1, 20255 min read


Customizing Your Private Placement Life Insurance Investment Strategy: Off-the-Shelf or Fully Tailored?
Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) is one of those tools few people talk about—but once you discover it, it’s hard to ignore. For...

Anatoly Iofe
Jul 1, 20254 min read


The Cleanest Estate Plan You Haven’t Considered
Wealthy families spend years accumulating assets and building legacies, but many estate plans fall apart under their own weight. Too many...

Anatoly Iofe
Jul 1, 20253 min read
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