The HuB ~ Summer Newsletter
Looking Ahead: Conversations to Start Now
Before we say goodbye to summer and find ourselves in the rush of year-end, this edition of the HuB newsletter offers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and look ahead.
Continuing our theme of connecting across generations, in this issue we share resources that we hope will serve as planning tools and conversation starters. Whether you are thinking about passing along family values, curious about how to account for digital assets, or looking for a reason to sit down and connect over a good book, we hope the HuB provides a useful place to begin.
As always, we welcome your ideas and feedback. Thank you for continuing to engage with us—and for allowing us to be people you count on.
— Mark Elefante, Managing Partner
Insights for You
Should You Include Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan?
As more of our financial and personal lives move online, digital assets have become a critical component of effective estate planning. This article outlines key considerations and planning strategies to help preserve value and simplify administration for your loved ones and fiduciaries.
The Family Wealth Conversation: Introducing Children to Wealth
The most effective family wealth conversations begin long before legal milestones or inheritance decisions. Discover practical strategies for introducing children to wealth, responsibility, and family values in a way that builds engagement over time.
Cybersecurity Awareness: Detecting Scams and Protecting Personal and Financial Assets
Cyberattacks exploit both human behavior and technical vulnerabilities. Staying informed about potential scams is one of the best ways to protect yourself. H&B's Director of IT shares strategies for safeguarding your personal data and avoiding fraud.
A Market Update from Hemenway Trust Company: July 2026
The latest Market Update from the investment professionals at Hemenway Trust Company, a New Hampshire based private trust company, highlights strong market performance driven by stronger than expected earnings and continued investment in AI, while emphasizing diversification, liquidity, and disciplined investing. Read the full article for insights on key market trends, opportunities, and risks shaping the second half of 2026.
Tax Corner
Make the Most of Your Gift Tax Exclusion
The 2026 “annual exclusion” allows you to give up to $19,000 ($38,000 for married couples) to any individual without using your lifetime gift and estate tax exemption or requiring you to file IRS Form 709.
As we head into the second half of the year, consider making gifts sooner rather than later. Making these gifts early in the year often results in more value passing to the recipient at no additional tax cost because it allows any appreciation over the year to pass to the individual free of estate or gift tax.
Review the updated tax brackets, increased exemption amounts, and new planning opportunities for 2026.
Watch List
We are always monitoring legal, regulatory, and policy developments that could impact you. Here are updates on two issues we have been watching.
Corporate Transparency Act Update
Effective August 14, 2026, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has permanently removed the beneficial ownership reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). Information already reported will be deleted from the beneficial ownership information database. The CTA had required certain companies to disclose information about their beneficial owners and company applicants to FinCEN as part of a broader effort to increase transparency around business ownership.
See the Treasury Department press release for more information.
MA State Income Tax Ballot Question Update
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruled that a proposal to cut the state’s income tax from 5% to 4% will not appear on the ballot this fall. The SJC found that the required summary was “significantly misleading and likely to influence voters.”
On a Lighter Note
Your Next Read
What does it take to lead, plan for the future, and prepare the next generation? We asked women leaders to share the books that have shaped their thinking. Here are some of their top recommendations:
- The Power of We by Jonathan Tisch & Karl Weber
- Level 5 Leadership by Jim Collins
- Radical Candor by Kim Scott
- Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
- Change by John Kotter & Vanessa Akhtar
Conversations that Connect
The 250th anniversary of our nation brings a renewed focus on the stories, values, and experiences that connect us across generations and communities. Connect250 from StoryCorps invites people from across the country to participate in meaningful conversations that preserve personal histories and strengthen our shared understanding of one another.
Explore the Connect250 initiative to learn how a simple conversation can build understanding, deepen relationships, and create a lasting record for the future.
Firm News
News
Stephen Kidder Comments on How Philadelphia’s Wage Tax May Affect LeBron James
News
Hemenway & Barnes Selected by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a Best Legacy Law Firm for Second Consecutive Year
News
Hemenway & Barnes Recognized by Chambers 2026 as a Leading Firm for Private Wealth Law: Brad Bedingfield and Joseph Bierwirth Featured as Notable Practitioners
Topics you want covered?
If there are areas you want to hear more about, or have us cover in future issues, please let us know. At work or in personal matters, life always has its moments—and we are here to help as well as plan accordingly.
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