estate planning

estate planning

Home / estate planning /

Life insurance can be a powerful estate planning tool for nontaxable estates

Life insurance can be a powerful estate planning tool for nontaxable estates

estate planning

estate planning

Life insurance can be a powerful estate planning tool for nontaxable estates

For years, life insurance has played a critical role in estate planning, providing a source of liquidity to pay estate taxes and other expenses. Today, the gift and estate tax exemption has climbed to $11.4 million, so estate taxes are no longer a concern...

adminMar 25Comments Disabled

Companion piece: Create a “road map” for your estate plan

Companion piece: Create a “road map” for your estate plan

estate planning

estate planning

Companion piece: Create a “road map” for your estate plan

No matter how much effort you’ve invested in designing your estate plan, your will, trusts and other official documents may not be enough. Consider creating a “road map” — an informal letter or other document that guides your family in understanding...

adminMar 18Comments Disabled

Moving a trust over state lines can offer tax savings and other benefits

Moving a trust over state lines can offer tax savings and other benefits

estate planning

estate planning

Moving a trust over state lines can offer tax savings and other benefits

People who live in states with high income taxes sometimes relocate to a state with a more favorable tax climate. A similar strategy can be available for trusts. If a trust is subject to high state income taxes, you may be able to change its residence...

adminMar 10Comments Disabled

No, it’s not unusual to include your pet in your estate plan

No, it’s not unusual to include your pet in your estate plan

estate planning

estate planning

No, it’s not unusual to include your pet in your estate plan

An unexpected outcome of the recent death of designer Karl Lagerfeld is that the topic of estate planning for pets has been highlighted. Lagerfeld’s beloved cat, Choupette, played a major role in his brand. The feline was the subject of a coffee table...

adminMar 04Comments Disabled

What you need to know about filing gift and estate tax returns

What you need to know about filing gift and estate tax returns

estate planning

estate planning

What you need to know about filing gift and estate tax returns

Have you made substantial gifts of wealth to family members? Or are you the executor of the estate of a loved one who died recently? If so, you need to know whether you must file a gift or estate tax return. Filing a gift tax returnGenerally, a federal...

adminFeb 16Comments Disabled

Building an on-off switch into your estate plan

Building an on-off switch into your estate plan

estate planning

estate planning

Building an on-off switch into your estate plan

The right estate planning strategy for you likely is the one that will produce the greatest tax savings for your family. Unfortunately, there can be tension between strategies that save estate tax and ones that save income tax. This is especially true...

adminFeb 10Comments Disabled

An ESOP can benefit a business owner’s retirement and estate plans

An ESOP can benefit a business owner’s retirement and estate plans

estate planning

estate planning

An ESOP can benefit a business owner’s retirement and estate plans

Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) offer closely held business owners an exit strategy and a tax-efficient technique for sharing equity with employees. But did you know that an ESOP can be a powerful estate planning tool? It can help you address several...

adminFeb 03Comments Disabled

Sudden impact: When a spouse unexpectedly dies

Sudden impact: When a spouse unexpectedly dies

estate planning

estate planning

Sudden impact: When a spouse unexpectedly dies

What if the unthinkable happens and your spouse dies unexpectedly? Would you be prepared to cope emotionally and financially? As the surviving spouse, you’ll face several tasks and challenges. First steps firstBy no means complete, the following are...

adminJan 21Comments Disabled

Have you had your annual estate plan checkup?

Have you had your annual estate plan checkup?

estate planning

estate planning

Have you had your annual estate plan checkup?

An annual estate plan checkup is critical to the health of your estate plan. Because various exclusion, exemption and deduction amounts are adjusted for inflation, they can change from year to year, impacting your plan. 2019 vs. 2018 amounts Here are...

adminJan 21Comments Disabled

Fraudulent transfer laws could sabotage your estate plan

Fraudulent transfer laws could sabotage your estate plan

estate planning

estate planning

Fraudulent transfer laws could sabotage your estate plan

Estate planning aims to help individuals achieve several important goals — primary among them, transferring wealth to loved ones at the lowest possible tax cost. However, if you have creditors, you need to be aware of how fraudulent transfer laws can...

adminJan 10Comments Disabled

1 2 … 5