Married couples: Joint or separate trusts?
Revocable trusts are a key component of many estate plans. Among other things, these trusts allow you to minimize probate expenses, keep your financial affairs private and provide...more
Preparing for 2026 -
Four ways to build flexibility into your estate plan -
January 1, 2026, is a significant date for estate planning. On that day, the federal gift and estate tax exemption amount set by the Tax Cuts...more
Pay attention to securities laws when planning your estate -
Do your assets include unregistered securities, such as restricted stock or interests in hedge funds or private equity funds? If so, it’s important to consider...more
12/28/2022
/ 401k ,
Asset Management ,
Beneficiaries ,
Disabled Children ,
Document Management ,
Estate Planning ,
Individual Retirement Account (IRA) ,
Inheritance ,
Retirement Plan ,
Securities ,
Successors ,
Trustees
Rising rates spark interest in charitable remainder trusts -
If you wish to leave a charitable legacy while generating income during your lifetime, a charitable remainder trust (CRT) may be a viable solution. In addition...more
10/25/2022
/ Asset Management ,
Estate Claims ,
Estate Planning ,
Estate Tax ,
Inheritance ,
IRS ,
Life Insurance ,
Retirement Funds ,
Tax Planning ,
Trustees ,
Trusts ,
Wealth Management
Estate planning for the happily married - Hedge your bets with a SLAT
One of the biggest challenges of estate planning is dealing with uncertainty. For 2022, for example, the federal gift and estate tax exemption is $12.06...more
Asset protection -
How to shield your wealth from lawsuits and creditors -
Much of estate planning focuses on transferring your wealth to loved ones in a taxefficient manner. But for many people, it’s equally important...more
You’ve received an inheritance: Now what?
If you’ve received, or will soon receive, a significant inheritance, it may be tempting to view it as “found money” that can be spent freely. But unless your current financial plan...more
5/23/2022
/ Asset Management ,
Beneficiaries ,
Estate Claims ,
Estate Planning ,
Family Members ,
Fiduciary ,
Inheritance ,
Successors ,
Trustees ,
Trusts ,
Wills
GST taxes -
Plan carefully to avoid surprises -
If you wish to share some of your wealth with your grandchildren or great grandchildren — or if your estate plan is likely to benefit these generations — it’s critical to...more
Getting remarried?
Understand your spouse’s inheritance rights -
If you’re getting remarried, you may have very different expectations than you did when you married the first time, especially when it comes to estate...more
Big tax changes are in the works -
What do they mean for your estate plan?
With apologies to Benjamin Franklin, little is certain about death and taxes these days. The Biden administration and several lawmakers have...more
Annual exclusion gifts -
A deceptively powerful estate planning strategy -
In 2021, the federal lifetime gift and estate tax exemption amount is a whopping $11.7 million. So, for most people, it may seem like planning...more
Below is a brief glance of what you'll find in the March/April 2021 issue of The Estate Planner.
- Can beneficiaries borrow from a trust?
- Taking steps to protect your will from being contested
- Defined-value...more
Below is a brief glance of what you'll find in the January/February 2021 issue of The Estate Planner.
- Can a charitable trust replicate a stretch IRA?
- Power up your trust with Crummey powers
- Net gift technique...more
A SPA trust can improve the flexibility of your estate plan -
We live in uncertain times. There’s uncertainty about the economy as well as the possibility of tax increases to address the rising federal debt. For example,...more