… where not to die in 2014. At least for tax purposes!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebeling/2013/11/01/where-not-to-die-in-2014-the-changing-wealth-tax-landscape/

… and a nice map.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebeling/2013/01/28/where-not-to-die-in-2013/

Governors Cuomo (NY) and Christie (NJ) are among those trying to stem the tide of wealthy citizens to more tax-friendly states like Florida.

Estate planning affects a lot of successful family businesses. But depending upon the business, it may be difficult – if not impossible – to continue the business in the face of federal and/or state “death” taxes.  A significant number of states are now trying to attract people by lowering or even eliminating their estate taxes.  That leaves other states scrambling to catch up.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/25/your-money/cold-facts-about-estate-taxes.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

… this time, over privacy concerns. This is a constant in the area of cloud computing.  In the post-Edward Snowden era, who isn’t concerned about the ability to hack into data storage?

http://www.fastcompany.com/3029451/fast-feed/privacy-concerns-force-inbloom-a-data-repository-for-schools-to-shut-down

This article has nothing to do with social entrepreneurship or family business, but it’s such a compelling story, I had to post it.  I have to wonder what these guys are thinking, giving a 20-year-old $25M – without even determining whether the app he says he’s building WORKS yet.

http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-story-of-clinkle-2014-4?page=1

… an article available at ashoka.org.

https://www.ashoka.org/story/how-business-can-lift-people-out-poverty-4-insights-worlds-best-social-entrepreneurs

This is an interesting article discussing some of the differences between male and female entrepreneurs, and how gender can affect the approach to entrepreneurship and business.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2013/08/21/how-different-are-female-and-male-entrepreneurs-susan-sobbot-president-of-american-express-open-weighs-in/

New businesses and apps such as Uber and ParkAtMyHouse are allowing entrepreneurs to generate income, even when their startup is not bringing home the bacon.

Pretty cool to see entrepreneurs being able to “even out” their income. Perhaps with more and more ways to generate positive cash flow, more will be willing to take the risk of starting their own business!

This article discusses family businesses and a few of the advantages they have compared to non-family businesses, particularly, knowledge, networks, and social resources passed from generation to generation.

“For family firms to survive and grow, they must pass on the entrepreneurial mindset and capabilities to create new streams of wealth across many generations- not just pass the business on from one generation to the next.  This practice is referred to as ‘transgenerational entrepreneurship’ or more simply, family entrepreneurship.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/babson/2012/05/11/how-can-family-business-be-more-entrepreneurial/

… but as I was reading one of the articles from Forbes, I saw this piece criticizing Mayer Brown for taking a case — and I thought, “What the heck?”  So I posted it.

Are there cases that no self-respecting law firm should take? Is this one of them?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/eamonnfingleton/2014/04/13/disgusting-cry-some-legal-experts-is-this-the-lowest-a-prominent-u-s-law-firm-has-ever-stooped/