Jeff is responsible for developing trust planning strategies for wealthy individuals and families throughout the United States and abroad. He works closely with his clients’ legal, tax, and investment advisors to construct and implement appropriate trust structures that take advantage of the state of Delaware’s unique trust and tax laws.
Prior to joining Wilmington Trust in 2005, Jeff spent seven years in private legal practice as a member of the Estates and Trusts Practice Group of the Philadelphia-headquartered law firm of Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP.
Jeff earned his J.D. (summa cum laude) and MBA (with honors) from Syracuse University and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Northwestern University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Jeff is a frequent lecturer on topics involving the use of Delaware trusts for asset protection, state income tax minimization, and investment management for unique trust assets.
Jeff is admitted to the practice of law in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. He is a member of the Estates and Trusts Section of the Delaware State Bar Association and the Real Property, Trust & Estate Section of the American Bar Association.
Wilmington Trust and Family Business Magazine hosted a Delaware trust advantage for business owners webinar on October 10, featuring our own Alvina Lo and Jeff Wolken. The webinar provided a comprehensive look at the special challenges business owners face in structuring estate plans due to their needs for control, flexibility, asset protection, and confidentiality—and how a Delaware trust can be an excellent way to help address these important issues.
Help minimize your state income tax liability with a personal trust administered in the First State.If you are a New York resident with appreciated assets and would like to potentially avoid paying high state and local taxes on that appreciation, establishing a trust in Delaware may help minimize your New York tax liabilities.You do not need to have a current trust in order to take advantage of this opportunity.
Changes in the federal tax laws have provided a renewed focus on state income taxes and strategies available to minimize these taxes.While personal trusts have been used most commonly as estate and gift tax planning vehicles, they now have increased importance as tools for minimizing a family’s federal and state income tax liability.
