Family Offices, Tax Strategy & Asset Protection: A Masterclass with Thomas J. Handler

Protecting wealth isn’t luck — it’s structure. In this episode of Fried On Business, Jim interviews Thomas J. Handler, one of the most respected attorneys in the country on family offices, complex tax strategy, and sophisticated wealth structuring. Thomas is widely known for advising ultra-high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs, and closely held companies on how to create legal and financial frameworks that protect assets and reduce risk.

Thomas explains the difference between wealth creation and wealth preservation, why most entrepreneurs underestimate risk exposure, and how the ultra-wealthy use entity design to control outcomes. Jim and Thomas discuss key elements that affect high-net-worth families: multi-entity structuring, tax efficiency, succession planning, governance, liquidity events, and investment oversight.

Listeners will learn the fundamental question that drives every structuring decision:
 “What are we solving for — control, tax optimization, liability protection, or legacy?”

Key takeaways include:

• Why wealthy families use multiple entities
 • How to reduce exposure during investment transactions
 • The legal logic behind asset segregation
 • How to design governance so the structure survives generational transition
 • Why failing to plan leads to unnecessary tax loss

Thomas also explains how market uncertainty, elections, and interest rate cycles affect structuring choices — and why now is a critical moment for owners to review their architecture.

If you’re scaling a business, nearing a liquidity event, or managing family wealth, this episode delivers an inside look at how the most sophisticated investors protect what they’ve built.

This episode of Fried on Business is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Warren Henry Auto Group.

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Jim Fried has been a real estate business person since 1980 and has had his own radio show since 2009.

Mr. Fried specializes in capitalizing commercial real estate transactions, unearthing urban land opportunities and is also a private lender.

He has been active in the real estate industry for many years as a financial intermediary, broker and investor. He has experience with many property types including, but not limited to: apartments, condominiums, retail centers, office buildings, industrial parks and health care – with a special focus on memory care.

Jim has closed over $3BB in real estate transactions during his career in markets across the eastern US.

Jim uses his communication skills to inform and entertain on his weekly podcast show – Fried on Business. Of course, the show discusses real estate, but he also tackles issues such as branding, sports business, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, public private partnerships as well as health and wellness.

He is also a mentor to many up and coming people in the real estate industry through his membership on the Board of The University of Florida’s Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies.

Mr. Fried is a winner of the Miami-Dade Public School Alumni Achievement Award.

Contact Jim via email at jim@friedonbusiness.com