Brookfort is participating in the STEP LatAm Conference in São Paulo, bringing together leading lawyers, accountants, bankers, fiduciaries, and private wealth advisers from across the region. The event provides a timely platform to examine the key trends shaping wealth planning in Latin America as families and advisers prepare for the year ahead.
Specifically, international families face an increasingly complex legal and tax environment. Managing cross-border wealth now requires aligning multi-jurisdictional tax rules, family governance models, and ongoing corporate administration.
Succession Beyond the Transfer of Assets
Succession planning is no longer limited to deciding who receives wealth. In practice, business families must address control mechanisms, governance frameworks, and operational continuity when managerial responsibility transitions between generations.
Furthermore, effective succession requires balancing the needs of the family, the nature of the underlying assets, and the relevant domestic legal frameworks. Establishing clear governance early helps preserve operational flexibility and reduces uncertainty across jurisdictions.
Navigating a Changing Latin American Tax Environment
Tax developments across the region are adding layers of technical complexity to cross-border structures. Consequently, evolving wealth taxes, Brazilian tax reform measures, and global minimum tax frameworks affect families, operating businesses, and investment vehicles differently based on their local connections.
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Brazilian Tax Reform: New rules altering the taxation of foreign entities and offshore investment structures held by domestic residents.
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Global Tax Standards: The broader influence of OECD Pillar Two principles and minimum taxation initiatives across Latin American jurisdictions.
Therefore, advisers must analyze specific factual circumstances before assuming that a cross-border structure will yield identical tax results across different borders.
Increasing Regulatory Scrutiny on International Structures
Tax authorities and financial institutions are evaluating international holding structures with unprecedented rigor. Specifically, authorities examine whether entities maintain genuine economic substance, clear corporate governance, transparent beneficial ownership, and accurate reporting profiles.
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Economic Substance: Demonstrating local management authority, operational resources, and a valid commercial purpose.
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Reporting Compliance: Ensuring entities fulfill automatic exchange of information obligations under FATCA and CRS.
Consequently, maintaining robust documentation, accurate accounting records, and coordinated administrative oversight is essential to protect structures from audit scrutiny.
Plan across borders
From Discussion to Practical Action
The insights from STEP LatAm serve as a clear reminder that cross-border structures must evolve alongside changing regulatory standards. While trusts, holding companies, and private foundations remain highly effective planning tools, their long-term validity depends on proper design and active fiduciary administration.
In other words, successful wealth management requires turning high-level legal considerations into practical, defensible arrangements that remain compliant across multiple borders.
BROOKFORT’S VIEW: Advising Families Today and Tomorrow
At Brookfort, we support internationally connected families and businesses through every stage of the wealth lifecycle—including cross-border structuring, family governance, fiduciary administration, tax compliance, and succession planning.
Ultimately, our focus is to help clients protect and manage their wealth through practical, resilient arrangements prepared for regulatory change. To evaluate how your cross-border structures align with evolving international standards, you can consult with our Brookfort Management Team. Additionally, if your global assets involve dedicated investment vehicles, explore our guide on selecting the Right Fund Services Provider to learn how robust administration keeps entities resilient.
Contact Brookfort today to discuss how we can assist with your cross-border planning strategy.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. The content herein should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with qualified tax or legal professionals. Readers are strongly encouraged to seek professional guidance tailored to their individual circumstances before making any tax or legal decisions regarding the topics discussed above.