David C. Malone, founder of Malone Integration Group (MIG), grounds his advisory approach in a deep understanding of ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) business owners whose wealth and responsibilities extend well beyond conventional financial planning. UHNW individuals have a net worth of at least $30 million, with assets usually spread across privately held companies, real estate, and other closely managed holdings.
“Many of the families I work with have most of their wealth tied up in the businesses they’ve built, not in cash sitting on the sidelines. That creates its own set of planning considerations: how to think about estate strategies, manage tax exposure, and support long-term continuity in a way that fits their situation,” Malone says. His work centers on helping families navigate these issues through coordinated, forward-looking strategies.
Malone’s career began in traditional financial planning, serving families across the Midwest with retirement and portfolio needs. As time went on, client situations became more complex. “Business owners who had grown companies beyond $20 million in annual revenue or $1 million in net profits were facing questions that stretched far past retirement projections,” he shares. “They were weighing succession options, intergenerational governance, estate tax thresholds, and the capital gains implications of potential liquidity events.”
That evolution prompted a professional pivot. Malone deepened his work in advanced estate structures, collaborating with tax attorneys and accountants to integrate legal, tax, and financial disciplines. He shaped MIG’s collaborative model to make the planning process feel seamless for clients whose time is often consumed by operating businesses.
The need for this level of integration reflects broader shifts in the wealth landscape. According to the 2026 edition of Deloitte’s Essential Tax and Wealth Planning Guide, high-net-worth individuals are navigating a tax environment marked by legislative debate, evolving enforcement priorities, and the implications of recently enacted federal provisions. The report emphasizes that multi-year financial modeling and careful attention to cash flow considerations can be as significant as technical tax outcomes.
“For many business owners, the balance sheet can look strong, but much of that value isn’t easily accessible. That’s why taking the time to model future obligations can be especially helpful. It gives them a clearer view of what’s ahead and how to plan for it,” Malone explains.
Still, he acknowledges that liquidity may represent constraints. Malone notes that a family might possess a net worth measured in hundreds of millions, while only a small percentage is readily accessible. Additionally, he adds that if estate taxes apply to amounts exceeding available exemptions, heirs may face pressure to sell operating assets to satisfy obligations.
Malone aims to address this tension through trust-based strategies that seek to reposition appreciating assets outside the taxable estate while allowing owners to retain managerial influence and economic participation. “Entrepreneurs devote decades to building enterprises that support employees and communities,” he says. “Planning offers a way to sustain that continuity without disrupting the company’s momentum.”
According to the founder, among the tools considered in such circumstances is a particular type of Asset Protection Trust (APT). Structured by a third party for the benefit of the business owner, an APT can allow the beneficiary to sell interests in a closely held company to the trust in exchange for a promissory note. Malone notes that because the trust is generally treated as owned by the beneficiary for income-tax purposes, transactions between the two are often viewed as income-tax neutral. Meanwhile, any subsequent growth inside the trust may accumulate outside the beneficiary’s taxable estate.
Malone also points out that the design may include a special power of appointment, which he views as an important tool for preserving long-term flexibility for future generations. In his experience, when this framework is paired with thoughtfully crafted installment note components or life insurance planning, it may support a coordinated approach to promoting business continuity, enhancing creditor protection, and managing estate-tax exposure for up to 365 years.
The choice of trust state situs can also meaningfully influence an overall plan, according to Malone. “Certain jurisdictions tend to offer longer trust durations and statutory protections that, in my experience, give families room to think beyond the limitations present elsewhere,” he shares. At Malone Integration Group, Malone notes that he aims to work alongside attorneys licensed in the selected state to help ensure the structure aligns with both legal requirements and the client’s broader strategy.
MIG’s overall process is co-creative: clients articulate their goals, advisors contribute technical insight, and the resulting plan reflects both. “Trust structures carry legal precision, but they also express family intention. Inviting each stakeholder into the conversation builds clarity and commitment,” Malone remarks.
Throughout this work, Malone maintains a consistent emphasis on clarity. He coaches existing advisors through advanced structures, explaining not only the mechanics but also the rationale behind them. Families are invited to voice preferences, concerns, and long-term aspirations. Plans evolve as businesses expand, markets fluctuate, and family circumstances change. Malone emphasizes, “Sophisticated planning carries depth, but its purpose is always to align resources with the family’s objectives.”
Overall, advanced business, estate, & tax planning for ultra-high-net-worth business owners calls for nuance, collaboration, and foresight. By integrating trust design, liquidity analysis, tax modeling, and succession governance through Malone Integration Group, Malone seeks to provide families with structures that reflect both technical rigor and personal intention. The goal is to create a planning process that acknowledges complexity while remaining attentive to the human dimensions of legacy.
This article is for informational purposes only, not intended to be tax or legal advice. Consult your own advisor or contact our office for a customized strategy composed by our licensed professionals.
Advisory services offered through Blackridge Asset Management, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Securities offered through Peak Brokerage Services, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Blackridge Asset Management, LLC and Malone Integration Group, LLC are separate and independent entities from Peak Brokerage Services, LLC.
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