Asset Protection

It’s similar to setting up firewalls — if you have a crisis in one area of your life, your other assets are protected.

Asset protection planning involves figuring out and applying a lawful series of techniques that protect your assets from claims of future creditors. The techniques are designed to deter potential creditors from going after all you own, and frustrate them if they do, generally by making it difficult or impossible for future creditors to grab hold of all your assets or collect judgments against you.

In cases where significant sums are involved, asset protection planning involves setting up a series of trusts, partnerships, LLC’s and corporations to hold legal title to your assets. A future creditor who recognizes how difficult it would be to collect on any judgment it may win, might decide it makes little sense to pursue a claim, or be willing to settle for pennies on the dollar.

There is a very sharp dividing line between “legal” asset protection planning on the one hand, and actions to defraud creditors, which are criminal, on the other. For that reason we orchestrate a team of professionals. All disciplines are involved tax attorneys, specialized CPA’s and of course Michael Smith as the conductor.

Beware of some operators, sometimes posing as foreign trust companies, that market packages of services that they claim will protect your assets. Some of them are criminal enterprises that will steal your assets. Some are fast buck artists that will leave you with no protection. Some will open you to serious criminal charges. Many will do all three – take your money, leave you with no protection and set you on the road to financial ruin.