Wrede “Bud” Smith is an owner of a family business, American Pop Corn Company, which was founded in 1914 and is now run by the fourth and fifth generations of the Smith family. He brings a unique perspective to the task of advising family-owned businesses, individuals and closely held companies. Whether you have concerns about succession planning, employment of children, rewarding non-family executives, or deciding when and how to sell the business, Bud has the experience and judgment necessary to help your business and your family analyze their options and achieve their goals.
More than 15 years ago he helped to create the Family Business Center at the University of Wisconsin Madison, which today offers educational forums and discussions to 65 member companies. The DeWitt firm has continued to sponsor the Family Business Center since its inception, and Bud has taken a leadership role at the Center as a board member, lecturer, financial contributor and active participant. He also teaches a class on family business at the U.W. Madison School of Business.
He also represents individuals who seek to develop or update their wills and trusts. Often, Bud recommends and implements sophisticated planning techniques designed to preserve the client’s wealth or pass a family farm or vacation home to the next generation. He is Chairperson of the firm’s Estates & Trusts Practice Group and has served as a director and former President of the Madison Estate Council.
Additionally, Bud represents a large number of other closely-held companies. These companies include not only corporations and limited liability companies, but cooperatives such as Accelerated Genetics of Baraboo. He particularly enjoys helping his business clients expand, merge with other businesses or acquire new businesses. Each expansion, merger or acquisition involves a unique set of challenges, including financing, employee restrictive covenants, taxation, and ownership structure. Bud is responsive and creative in helping his clients meet and overcome those challenges.
Clients
Bud represents individuals seeking estate planning advice and closely held businesses of all kinds, including many family owned businesses. A small sample of the family owned businesses that Bud represents includes Diesel Injection Service, Inc., The Bruce Company, Smart Motors, Inc. and Mid-State Equipment, Inc.
Notable Representations
- With Bud’s help, the owners of a rapidly-growing S corporation have created a series of Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) as a way to transfer some of their S corporation stock to their children without incurring estate tax or gift tax.
- Through the use of limited liability companies, self-cancelling notes (SCINs) and valuation discounts, Bud was able to assist the founders of a family business in transferring the bulk of their wealth to the second and third generations.
- When the owners of a Madison manufacturing firm discovered that their president was attempting to gain control of the ownership of the business in a devious manner, they turned to Bud to assist them in terminating the president, identifying and hiring an interim CEO, and eventually designing and drafting a compensation package for a new CEO. The company experienced significant growth in sales and earnings during the leadership transition, and its growth continues today.
Articles / Presentations
- Estate Planning for Financial Planners; UW Madison-Consumer Science 501 (2010)
- Planning Gifts to Charities; Oakwood Foundation (2010)
- Family Business Issues; UW Madison School of Business (2004-2011)
- Selected Estate and Trust Issues for Commercial Lenders; First Business Bank (2010)
- Tax Relief Act of 2010; Estate, Gift and GST Tax Provisions; UW Family Business Center (2011)
- Estate Taxes and the Family Business: How to Plan for Succession When the Rules Keep Changing; UW Family Business Center (2010)
- Charitable Giving: How Helping the Oakwood Foundation Can Help You and Your Family; Oakwood Foundation (2011)