Episodes

Season 2 Episode 20: Moving from the U.S. to Spain: Tax and Estate Planning U.S. individuals considering a move to Spain may need to plan for two different tax and estate-planning systems. Chris Klug and Meritxell Mont discuss key cross-border considerations before and after relocation. Watch on YouTube Moving from the U.S. to Spain can raise tax and estate-planning questions in both countries. In this episode of Under the Basswood Tree, Chris Klug and Meritxell Mont discuss what U.S. indivi...

Season 2 Episode 19: Cross-Border Business U.S. and Spain: Types of Entities and Structuring Options Chris Klug and Meritxell Mont compare U.S. and Spanish business entity structures and discuss tax, liability, and operational considerations for companies expanding between the two countries. Watch on YouTube Choosing a business structure for international expansion requires considering how that entity will be treated in more than one jurisdiction. In this episode of Under the Basswood Tree p...

Season 2 Episode 18: U.S. Business Structures: Legal and Tax Choices Across Borders Choosing a U.S. business structure involves legal, tax, state-level, and cross-border considerations. Chris Klug and Meritxell Mont discuss LLCs, corporations, tax classification, and international coordination. Watch on YouTube Choosing a U.S. business structure involves more than deciding which legal entity to form. In this episode of Under the Basswood Tree, Basswood Counsel partner Chris Klug and Meritxel...

What should a Spanish company consider before expanding into the United States? Basswood Counsel’s Chris Klug and Meritxell Mont of Capital Auditors and Consultants examine the questions businesses may encounter as they enter the U.S. market. Their discussion covers differences among U.S. states, choosing locations for sales and manufacturing, entity structuring, employment and payroll requirements, and potential federal and state tax obligations. They also discussed when a foreign company's act...

U.S. companies expanding into Spain may encounter legal, tax, employment, and accounting rules that differ significantly from those in the United States. In this episode of Under the Basswood Tree podcast, Basswood Counsel’s Chris Klug speaks with Meritxell Mont, a tax and corporate lawyer at Capital Auditors and Consultants, about structuring Spanish operations. They discuss early-stage market entry, permanent establishment concerns, subsidiaries and branches, VAT, payroll withholding, employer...

For U.S. businesses considering European expansion, Spain may serve as both a destination market and a potential base for wider European operations. In this episode of Under the Basswood Tree podcast, Chris Klug of Basswood Counsel and Meritxell Mont of Capital Auditors & Consultants discuss how U.S. companies can approach expansion into Spain. The conversation emphasizes starting with a clear business plan: what the company intends to do in Spain, where it will operate, whether employees will...

Season 2 Episode 14: Moving a Company to Another State: Understanding Corporate Domestication Corporate domestication allows certain businesses to relocate their legal domicile without necessarily dissolving the existing entity. This episode examines the tax, legal, and regulatory considerations that should be evaluated before making that decision. Watch on YouTube In this episode of Under the Basswood Tree podcast, Chris Klug joins Rudo Mugwagwa, to discuss corporate domestication and how i...

Does a U.S. person still need to file a U.S. tax return after moving abroad? Living outside the United States does not automatically end U.S. tax reporting obligations. This episode provides an overview of the United States’ worldwide income reporting system, potential relief through foreign tax credits and the foreign earned income exclusion, and key international reporting requirements, including FBAR, FATCA, and forms that may apply to foreign accounts, trusts, businesses, investments, and r...

Part 2 of this broker-dealer compliance series shifts from formation and registration into the operational realities of maintaining a compliant broker-dealer business over time. In this episode of Under the Basswood Tree, Jephte Lanthia and Erik Dolan discuss Regulation BI, investor protection obligations, communications and advertising oversight, AI-assisted compliance tools, examinations, vendor supervision, and continuing membership applications (CMAs).

Season 2 Episode 11: Part 1: Broker Dealer Compliance Deep Dive: Regulatory Foundation — Registration, WSPs, Capital Requirements, and FINRA Approval From FINRA registration and WSPs to capital requirements and supervision systems, this episode explores the foundational side of broker-dealer compliance. Watch on YouTube In Part 1 of this broker-dealer compliance deep dive, Jephte Lanthia and Erik Dolan discuss the regulatory foundation behind forming and operating a broker-dealer, including ...

Special Episode: Beyond Returns: Investor Confidence & Governance, A Zimbabwe Perspective From governance structures and reporting standards to diaspora investment and institutional readiness, this conversation examines the practical realities behind attracting long-term capital. Watch on YouTube In this episode of Under the Basswood Tree, Rudo Mugwagwa sits down with Peggy Mapondera to discuss governance, operational credibility, and investor confidence within Zimbabwe’s evolving private ca...

Season 2 Episode 10: Estate Planning Explained: The Documents, Decisions, and Conversations That Matter Estate planning is not just about preparing documents. It is about helping families make informed decisions before difficult moments arise. Watch on YouTube Estate planning is often associated with wills and legal documents, but the process involves much more than paperwork. In this episode of Under the Basswood Tree, Chris Klug and Ashley Vidal discuss how thoughtful estate planning can h...

Season 2 Episode 09: U.S. Tax Rules for Foreign Investors: U.S. Trade or Business & ECI Explained When do foreign investors become subject to U.S. tax? This conversation explores how activities, structure, and timing determine whether income is taxed—and how to plan ahead. Entering the U.S. market as a foreign investor can unlock significant opportunity—but it also introduces a new layer of tax complexity. In this episode, we focus on two critical questions that determine U.S. tax exposure: D...

Season 2 Episode 08: U.S. Tax Sourcing Rules: How to Determine Where Income Is Taxed Sourcing rules answer a simple but critical question: where is your income actually earned for tax purposes? Sourcing rules determine whether income is taxed in the U.S. or elsewhere. This conversation explores how those rules apply to interest, dividends, services, royalties, and more. This episode covers: What are sourcing rules in U.S. tax? How is interest income sourced? How services are taxed interna...

Season 2 Episode 07: Transfer Pricing Explained: Getting It Right Across Borders Transfer pricing is not about finding a perfect number. It is about building a defensible position grounded in data, comparability, and how your business actually operates. Watch on YouTube What is transfer pricing, and why does it matter more than ever for global businesses? In this episode of Under the Basswood Tree, we unpack how companies price transactions across borders, the role of the arm’s length standa...

Season 2 Episode 06: Estate Planning Explained: When a Will Is Enough – and When a Trust Makes Sense Estate planning often begins with a simple question: should your plan be centered around a will or a trust? This conversation explores how the two structures differ, how probate fits into the process, and why thoughtful planning helps ensure assets transfer as intended. Watch on YouTube Should your estate plan be built around a will or a trust? In this episode of Under the Basswood Tree podc...

Season 2 Episode 05: The Strategic Importance of Estate Planning Estate planning is more than drafting a will - it’s about aligning your assets, beneficiaries, and tax strategy into one cohesive plan. In this episode, Chris Klug and Gina Lee explain how thoughtful coordination and ongoing review safeguard both your wealth and your legacy. Many people believe estate planning begins and ends with a will. In reality, it involves aligning assets, debts, business interests, retirement planning, an...

Season 2 Episode 04: FBAR and FATCA – Filing Pitfalls, Thresholds, and Practical Tips In Part 2 of our FBAR and FATCA series, Rudo Mugwagwa and Gina Lee move from understanding the rules to addressing where filings most often break down and how to avoid those issues. Watch on YouTube FBAR and FATCA compliance doesn’t start at the filing deadline, it starts with early planning. In Part 2 of our FBAR and FATCA series, Rudo Mugwagwa and Gina Lee move from understanding the rules to addressing w...

Season 2 Episode 03: FBAR and FATCA Explained – Understanding the Differences and Overlap This episode discusses the FBAR and FATCA frameworks, common misunderstandings, and the consequences of getting compliance wrong. Watch on YouTube In this episode of the Under the Basswood Tree podcast, Basswood Counsel attorneys Rudo Mugwagwa and Gina Lee explain two U.S. cross-border reporting regimes that are often confused: FBAR and FATCA. The discussion breaks down what each regime is designed to ...

Season 2 Episode 02: Coming to America (Part 2): Key U.S. Tax Considerations Entering the U.S. market involves far more than forming an entity- it requires thoughtful planning across incentives, compliance, and exit strategy. In this episode, Chris Klug and Gina Lee unpack the federal, state, and cross-border tax considerations non-U.S. businesses must address once U.S. operations begin. In this episode of the Under the Basswood Tree podcast, Chris Klug and Gina Lee continue the Coming to Ame...

Season 2 Episode 01: What Really Happens in an M&A Deal? From first contact to post-closing integration, M&A transactions demand structure, foresight, and resilience. In this episode, we explain how understanding the process helps owners navigate risk, timing, and negotiation more effectively. Hazvinei Mugwagwa continues the Talking M&A series with a practical walkthrough of the M&A transaction process—from early discovery and letters of intent to due diligence, closing, and post-transaction ...

Season 1 Episode 14: Coming to America: Structuring Your U.S. Expansion For non-U.S. companies, the decision to operate in the U.S. is as much a tax decision as a business one. In this episode, we break down how footprint, structure, and financing choices shape U.S. tax exposure from day one. Watch on YouTube Chris Klug and Gina Lee explore what it really means for non-U.S. companies to “come to America.” They break down U.S. tax concepts, entity structuring considerations, and common pitfal...

Season 1 Episode 13: A Year of Change: Navigating New Rules in Securities, Crypto, and Financial Markets A year of regulatory change has reshaped how businesses approach securities, fintech, and digital assets in the U.S. In this anniversary episode, Hazvinei Mugwagwa and Jephte Lanthia reflect on what shifted, where clarity emerged, and why adaptability is now a core business skill. Watch on YouTube In this episode of the Under the Basswood Tree podcast, Hazvinei Mugwagwa and Jephte Lanthia...

Season 1 Episode 12: From Tax Cuts to New Opportunities: Key Highlights of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduces significant and permanent changes that reshape tax planning for both individuals and businesses. In this episode, Chris Klug and Gina Lee walk through the most impactful provisions and explain where timely planning can preserve value. Watch on YouTube In this special episode of the Under the Basswood Tree Podcast, recorded during Basswood Counsel...