Strategic Year-End Planning for Family Offices: 2025 Edition

As 2025 draws to a close, family offices and ultra-high-net-worth families have a timely opportunity to assess tax exposure and make strategic adjustments before year-end. Taking action now can reduce current-year liabilities, preserve long-term wealth, and reinforce compliance posture amid heightened IRS scrutiny of complex structures.

Key planning priorities include harvesting investment losses to offset gains, maximizing charitable deductions through donor-advised funds or contributions of appreciated assets, and considering advanced charitable vehicles for higher-impact giving. It’s also critical to ensure required minimum distributions (RMDs) are addressed where applicable, or rollover strategies are reviewed reduce future RMDs. Now is the time to revisit estate and gifting strategies while the lifetime exemption have returned to higher levels.

Strengthening governance, documentation, and fiduciary protocols within family entities can also help mitigate audit risk and support long-range planning goals.

A focused review before December 31 can produce meaningful tax savings now and position families to navigate coming changes with greater flexibility and control. 

If 2025 slips by, use early 2026 as your launch point as strategic planning doesn’t end on December 31.

Contact Palm Beach Tax Group to schedule your year-end tax review: Roland@palmbeachtaxgroup.com