Joshua Kennon is a Managing Director of
Kennon-Green & Co., a private asset management firm specializing in global value investing for affluent and high net worth individuals, families, and institutions. Nothing in this article or on this site, which is Mr. Kennon's personal blog, is intended to be, nor should it be construed as, investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell a security or securities. Investing can result in losses, sometimes significant losses. Prior to taking any action involving your finances or portfolio, you should consult with your own qualified professional advisor(s), such as an investment advisor, tax specialist, and/or attorney, who can help you consider your unique needs, circumstances, risk tolerance, and other relevant factors.
We’ve talked about how a holding company works in the past, provided a beginner’s explanation of holding companies, and even looked at two high profile private holding companies owned by America’s richest families, Walton Enterprises, LLC and Cascade Investment, LLC. I even gave a very basic explanation over at About.com as to how family members can invest together through a limited liability company. Tonight, I thought I’d go over a very basic, very simplified explanation of a much more advanced concept that isn’t appropriate for most people but will show how a family holding company can be used to gift millions of dollars tax-free to heirs and others, while retaining control of assets and binding a group together economically. This is a high-level, conceptual explanation. Do not act on any of this without consulting with your own tax attorney, tax accountant, and other qualified advisers. None of this is investment advice. None of this is tax advice. None of this is legal advice.
I was curious tonight so I began reading the 2010 College-Bound Seniors Total Group Profile Report (PDF), which includes data on 1.59 million college-bound students who took the SAT. One of the charts, Table 25, interested me so I put the data into an Excel spreadsheet, created an aggregate column, and then ranked the SAT…
Mental Model: Gaslighting One of the big themes that I perpetually hit upon is that you, as a rational, responsible adult, should not outsource your thinking. When it comes to what matters in life, you must rely on your own judgment and analysis of the facts. In the words of Benjamin Graham, “You are neither…
Alchemy Potion Making Profit Calculator for Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Following a weekend of Thanksgiving meals, meetings, and celebrations, I’ve been trying to catch up on messages, write new content, finish some things for one of the companies, and master enchantment and potion making in Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. I found this online potion profitability calculator that…
One of the things on the “to find” culinary list is a recipe for the perfect gourmet macaroni and cheese and the perfect recipe for mango pineapple smoothies. Tonight was a chance to make a go at both of these things. [mainbodyad]Ideally, a great macaroni and cheese would be smooth, rich, and complex. Aaron…
I’ve read Architectural Digest since I was in middle school. Having my own canvas upon which to paint is enjoyable and turning out to be my favorite part of this iteration of the six-month project. Putting a room together is the same feeling as composing or writing a well-crafted essay. The aesthetics for the…
It’s nearly 1:30 a.m. and I am up working on the MacBook from an armchair in my living room as Aaron battles Draugr in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on Playstation 3. My plan had been to work out but instead I found myself drawn into a technological problem that was facing one of the…
I wanted to give you some insight into the approach and strategies Aaron and I use to get what we want in life; to build our home and businesses into a cohesive system that works to reinforce each other and bring us happiness and financial freedom, which includes freedom over our time.
In 1936, Parker Brothers released an add-on to the popular Monopoly board game called the Stock Exchange. Although the core Monopoly game had two asset classes – real estate and a few common stocks in the form of the four railroads and two utility companies – the Stock Exchange add-on brought the experience to a…
Mental Model: Horns Effect and Halo Effect One of the most powerful, and potentially harmful, mental models you will encounter in your life is known as the horns effect and halo effect. It can cloud your judgment, and because it is closely related to the mere association mental model, has the power to cause you…
