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Account Reconciliation |
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Because we receive copies of
all of your investment and checking accounts, we keep all of
your accounts properly reconciled and balanced. In addition,
of course, we maintain all canceled checks, neatly filed and
securely held. |
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Accounting Services
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Each of us manages our affairs
using our own unique accounting system. Our first goal, always,
is to make certain we fully understand exactly how you use your
system to give you the information you need to manage your affairs.
Then we adapt our computerized accounting packages to marry your
work to the power of electronics, giving you the advantage of
a system you know well and the enhancements and power offered
by computers. Your accounting system stays the same, but is greatly
enhanced with our support. |
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Account Transfers |
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Since most of us maintain a
number of different accounts, shifting funds in a timely manner
can be somewhat problematic on a regular basis. We typically
have a limited power of attorney that enables us to take care
of these chores for you. |
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Automobile License
Renewal |
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This used to be a simple process,
but today you need both your personal property tax receipt and
your insurance certificate, as well as your inspection papers
and renewal forms. We go to extra lengths to keep these documents
separate and readily available, filed together and yours with
one phone call. We'll also put your renewal dates on your financial
calendar, so nothing will be overlooked. |
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Automobile Titles |
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We don't need them too often,
but when we do its essential we produce the original title promptly.
We review these, not only to make certain we've got them properly
identified in our filing system, but also to make certain they
show your revocable trust as the owner of record. It's a small
thing but vital when the need arises. |
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Bank Deposits |
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Keeping track of deposits and
properly categorizing them is crucial for taxes and budgeting,
but it's not always simple. Split deposits, transfers and automated
deposits can be difficult to record. We make sure every deposit
is accurately registered and categorized so your files are always
up-to-date. |
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Bill Paying &
Check Writing |
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We’re an inexpensive way
to pay routine bills, offering the convenience of Post Office
delivery of your important bills and statements. We either prepare
checks for your signature, or simply pay them from a special
Bill-paying account. Either way you’re assured of timely
and accurate payment of your routine bills, plus full backup
documentation is neatly filed and readily available. |
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Categorization of Expenses
and Income |
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We electronically record all
your financial transactions, using your own unique chart of accounts.
The power of this categorization is the ease with which your
unique reporting requirements can be met. However you prefer
to track your income and expenses we can help. |
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Charitable Gifting |
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All of us have favored charities
we like to support, and find ourselves always asking the same
question: what did we do last year, or the year before? Developing
that data can be difficult, but it is one of the areas where
our computer-stored data can really help you. If you need data
on any category just ask and we'll print it right out for you. |
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Computerized Backup
and Record Keeping |
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It only takes one time
to realize the value of off-site computer back-ups! We can run
parallel with your system (or give you the advantages of computerized
record-keeping without the headaches). Our records are backed
up nightly, so we're always ready should your system go down. |
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Cost Basis Records |
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Maintaining the proper
historical cost basis of your assets can be very significant
when computing capital gains. Whether they're your investment
securities, real estate or collections, we can properly maintain
all of these for you. |
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Cost Effective Management |
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Why pay your management staff
for filing and paperwork? We are an inexpensive alternative,
allowing your staff to concentrate on the central purpose of
your office or foundation. |
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Divorce Case
Research |
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Most divorces involve the proper
separation of jointly held assets. The first step of the process
is to clearly understand what is owned, what is owed and what
sort of annual income is generated. While we are not forensic
accountants, we are really good at reconstructing financial activity
and cash flows to identify all sources of income and all recipients
of outflow. Working with our partners, we’re able to present
the blueprint base line analysis. Sometimes this is sufficient;
sometimes this needs further research. Either way, we are the
cost-efficient way of generating this data. |
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Estate Planning Work |
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Most of us have already been
through the most important part of this process - mapping out
with your attorney exactly what is to happen with your important
assets after you're gone. But that is only the first part of
the process: re-registering your assets properly to reflect your
plans is a time consuming and yet vital process. Likewise, keeping
your planning up-to-date requires periodic reviews and attention.
We keep this straight for you, so when you're ready we're ready. |
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Estimated Tax Payments |
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Keeping track of your estimated
taxes is an important quarterly obligation, and doing it right
can save you penalties and interest come tax time. With our assistance,
we'll keep your records up-to-date and timely, and make certain
you have the proper forms when you need them. |
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Executor Support Services |
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Being the executor of an estate
can be daunting. We can help sort through the papers, track down
investments, insurance policies, and debts and provide a complete
inventory. We communicate with the attorneys, brokers, family
members, and employees and make sure everyone is working together. |
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Facilitate Communications |
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Far-flung and busy families
often discover simple transactions can be inordinately complicated
- and complicated ones can be almost impossible. As your Family
Office, we can be a clearing-house for the details of property
management, scheduling, and partnerships. And when the need arises,
our staff can help assure your directives are clear and understandable
to all your family. |
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Family Partnership
Accounting |
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Family Partnerships are simply
terrific investment tools, allowing you to pool family assets
to pursue more aggressive investment strategies. But, the accounting
and proper management can be quite confusing and has to be done
precisely to preserve the estate tax benefits that may be available.
We can help you keep this all straight. |
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Filing Services |
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Most of us have accumulated
documents that are just too important to be tossed, but not so
important that we need them at a moment's notice. For many of
our clients we maintain all of their important paper documents
in our central files – neatly sorted, filed and available
with just a phone call. |
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Financial Calendars |
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There are always key dates
to remember in handling your financial obligations - insurance
payments, property taxes, gifting opportunities, tuition payments
- all are too important to be overlooked. With our help you get
timely reminders and updates, with no more financial surprises. |
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Financial Reporting |
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Most of us lead financial lives
today that are more complicated than they've ever been in the
past. But we often shortchange ourselves, running our own affairs
without the precise and comprehensive financial information we
demand at work. Good financial information is our specialty.
We give you exactly what you need to make good judgments. |
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Foundation Accounting
Services |
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Almost any good general ledger
accounting system handle the accounting needs of most foundations.
We have found, however, that most Foundation trustees and executives
really want to focus on the market value of their assets, rather
than just the cost basis. So there’s a need for both a general
ledger package and an investment-tracking package – exactly
the services we provide to numerous locally based foundations. |
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Funds Transfers |
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Since most of us maintain a
number of different accounts, shifting funds in a timely manner
can be problematic. We typically have a limited power of attorney
that enables us to take care of these chores for you. |
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General Ledger Accounting
Packages |
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Some entities, particularly
Foundations can gain better control over their finances by employing
a full general ledger accounting package. We maintain these packages
for a number of clients, and give them the full power a freestanding
G/L can deliver – balance sheets, profit and loss statements,
cash flow statements and the full range of comparative reports.
We use Quickbooks Pro (the industry leader) as our standard,
but can run any PC based package you prefer. |
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Guardianships |
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Satisfying your fiduciary responsibilities
and the Court's supervision is complicated and demands expert
record keeping. Our fully documented accounting and reporting
systems meet the most stringent requirements. |
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Important Addresses
and Dates |
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If you've never forgotten a
supplier's telephone number, or your sister's birthdate, then
this service won't mean much to you. But for most of us keeping
these important addresses and dates available is a major chore.
With our service its just a telephone call away, and no birthday
is ever overlooked. |
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Insurance Coverage |
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For most of us, understanding
our insurance coverage is a baffling challenge. We simplify this
chore by providing concise summaries of the coverage you actually
have, including insured amounts, premium due dates and coverage
limits. Plus you'll be able to see at a glance any "holes'
in your coverage disability protection, nursing home care packages,
umbrella liability, etc. |
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Inventory Location
and Access |
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Secure storage of documents,
files and records is important, but we also need to ensure that
records are accessible to our families or partners should the
need arise. We inventory your important records, safe deposit
boxes, vaults and computer files, list the locations and combinations
or passwords needed for access. Your inventory is secure in our
office until it's needed. |
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Investment Consolidation |
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It's difficult enough to read
and understand just one brokerage or Investment Management Company
report, but when you have five or six it becomes truly daunting.
We concentrate on eliminating the confusion of these reports,
consolidating them so that you get a one-page summary of exactly
how your investments are performing. We don't duplicate the detail
your managers track for you, we just give you the important information
you need when you need it. |
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Mail Forwarding |
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Sure, the Post Office can forward
your mail, but they can't distinguish between what's important
and what's not. That's where we come in. We pull out your bills
and statements for payment, send you the obviously personal mail
and hold or pitch the catalogues. You get just what you need,
when you need it. |
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Paying Domestic Help
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Properly managing a domestic
payroll is a major difficulty for most of our clients, particularly
because of the numerous tax reporting agencies that are involved.
Working on a unique basis with an outside service provider (ADP
- the largest payroll processor in the world) we cut through
this red tape and get your employees paid properly, on time and
without hassle. |
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Permanent Mailing Address |
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We are your permanent mailing
address. Foundations, individuals and private associations use
us to collect and forward their mail. No more address changes
or forwarding headaches. Regardless of where you live, or who
this year's treasurer is, your address stays the same. |
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Personal Accounting
Services |
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Modern day financial complexities
have made our traditional personal accounting resources outdated.
We used to to reconcile our checkbooks and take a look at an
investment statement to understand our financial lives. Today
that won’t suffice, and we are finding more and more interest
in our personal accounting services. What you’ll get is
what you’ll need – personal income and expense statements,
personal balance sheet and personal cash flow statement. |
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Planning |
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Long-range planning is pointless
without good information. We give you everything you need to
make the best decisions for yourself and your family - usable
and accurate information and a network of expert advisors for
you to draw on. |
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Revocable Trusts |
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We make sure your Trust and
personal records are completely segregated and that your Trust
records are accurately reflect your directives. Successor trustees
really appreciate our record-keeping services as they assume
management of the Trust. |
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Safe Deposit Boxes |
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Safe Deposit Boxes are the
only way to protect truly important documents, but how many of
us know where they are or what's in them, not to mention where
the keys might be? This is so important that we've developed
special procedures to make certain you know where everything
is. |
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Senior Support Services
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There may come a time when
senior members of a family need help managing their financial
affairs. We work with all members of the family, and their financial
advisors, to design a program that is supportive, but not intrusive.
Meticulous records are kept, employee expenses carefully reviewed
and documented, and monthly reports prepared for the family.
Our clients preserve as much of their independence as possible. |
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Special Projects
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Most of us involved in charitable
boards know the usefulness of performing independent financial
analysis to help us better understand the dynamics of the institution
with which we are working. Usually the perspective we can bring
dramatically enhances our contributions as a Board member, so
performing this analytical work is important. At FSS we’re
happy to take on these chores for you, to let you focus on solutions
rather than number crunching. So, whatever the activity is that
captures your interest, know that we’re there to give you
the information you need. |
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Tax Records |
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It seems like we're always
receiving letters and notices that state "Important -save
this for your tax return." But, where do we put them where
we know we'll be able to find them? just a part of what we can
do to simplify your life is to maintain your own unique tax folder
here in our office, so as these notices are received you'll know
they'll be available when you need them. |
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Tax Time Reporting |
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Tired of the end-of-year problems
of getting all your financial activity organized (and found)
for your tax accountant? When you’re one of our clients
that problem disappears, and we’re able to give your CPAs
the information they need to do their job best – cut your
taxes. |
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Vacation Home
Management |
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Second homes are wonderful
assets, but do require added attention to be properly maintained.
We can take the problems off your hands by having all bills come
to our office where they can be paid on a current basis. Plus,
with our categorization you’ll know exactly how much your
other homes are absorbing. And, if you’re involved in any
sort of a rental program you’ll have crystal clear statements
for your tax advisors. |
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Transitional
Accounting Services |
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We all have moments when record
keeping, multiple bank and investment accounts overwhelm us.
Changes in life, career or family structure often require new
accounting or record keeping systems. We can inventory exactly
what you have, track down those long forgotten insurance policies,
and give you a clear picture of your new financial situation
so you are prepared to move forward in your new circumstances. |
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Vital Records |
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Whether its birth certificates,
passports or your daughter's confirmation certificate, we all
have documents that have to be saved for that special need. With
our approach we guarantee you'll be able to find whatever you
need, when you need it. |
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