5 minHow Can Life Insurance Be Used In Estate Planning?Life insurance is a great tool for estate planning. However, there are nuances that sometimes get overlooked which, if left unchecked,...
4 minThe Flexible Estate Tax Planning Trust "In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes." - Benjamin Franklin When it comes to estate taxes (otherwise referred to as...
2 minEstate Tax Reform Missing from Current PlanInstead of focusing on estate tax reform, or the "billionaire tax," the current focus proposes increased taxes on incomes over 10 million.
2 minHere We Go Again - Estate Tax Exemption May Be Reduced Come Next YearBill provisions reduce the Estate Tax Exemption from $11.7 Million down to $5 Million adjusted for inflation. effective next year.
2 minBills to Repeal Stepped-Up BasisDiscussion of the potential loss of the step-up in basis and resulting planning strategies.
3 minHow Biden's New Proposed Tax Plan Affects Estate Planning Biden's American Families Plan did not include provisions to expand estate taxes, and instead focused on capital gains.
4 minElection Result Could Warrant Making Gifts Now Instead of at DeathPeople are eager to look into ways to gift away assets now, taking advantage of the current gift and estate tax exemption.
1 minProposed California State Estate Tax FailsAlthough many thought is would pass, Senate Bill 378 will not be appearing on the 2020 ballot. There are currently no California Death...
3 minAdvanced Estate Planning with Lifetime GiftsThere are a number of estate planning strategies that can help preserve your assets, promote the transfer of wealth, and lessen the tax...
2 minUsing Portability in Estate PlanningWhen one spouse dies, it is generally recommended that the surviving spouse consider filing an Estate Tax return to elect portability.
3 minFarmers, Don’t Make These Five Estate Planning MistakesEstate planning for farmers and ranchers can involve many pitfalls for the unwary. First mistake: some farmers think they don’t have to...
2 minCalifornia Estate Tax May Reach 2020 BallotEstate taxes have been less and less of a concern due to the steadily increasing exemption, which is currently $11.4 million per...
3 minTalk to an Estate Planning Attorney About Tax Cut ActEstate planning attorneys advise meeting about how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could affect your taxes. If you haven’t had a talk with your...
2 minIs This the Golden Age of Tax-Free Gift Giving?There’s a time limit on the current opportunity for tax-free giving. It expires after tax year 2025 (unless Congress alters the...
2 minWhat is an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust?As part of an overall estate planning strategy, says JD Supra in the article “Estate Planning: The Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust,” an...
2 minHow to Incorporate Charitable Giving into an Estate PlanWhen looking into charitable giving, it can easily become overwhelming. Talking to an experienced estate planning attorney can help make...
3 minNo Estate Taxes? You May Still Need Life InsuranceIncreases in the estate tax exemption (up to $11.4 million per person as of the date of this writing) has an impact on how some people...
3 minShould I Create My Will Online?More than 50% of Americans don’t have a will, according to a 2017 survey by Caring.com. A U.S. News & World Report’s article asks “Should...
2 minTop 3 Reasons for Business Succession PlanningThe San Antonio Business Journal’s recent article, “Plan your exit even if you never plan to leave your business,” explains that many...
3 minWhy Do I Need an Estate Plan?Estate planning is fairly easy to do. That said, it is also very easy not to do (as evidenced by the statistics on the subject)....