Your estate may be worth a little or a lot at your death. The items which your beneficiaries might cherish could be the sentimental ones. Read on to learn how your will or trust could provide the ability for you to keep a list and update it without needing to see your lawyer every time you change your mind on an item.
Domestic Asset Protection Trusts are spreading to more jurisdictions. However, their protections may be waning. Read on to learn more about Domestic Asset Protection Trusts.
As we turn the page and bid farewell to 2018, we look forward to 2019. This article summarizes the major changes for 2019, both in the tax area and in other areas. Read on to learn more.
Trusts are useful vehicles both during life and after death. This article examines how trusts are income taxed. Grantor trusts are taxed to the grantor, regardless of whether the income is distributed to them. Nongrantor trusts are separate taxpaying entities but get a deduction for distributions to beneficiaries. Read the article to learn more.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act temporarily doubled the amount which can be given free of tax. However, that amount reverts to the permanent, undoubled amount in 2026. The estate tax ordinarily includes prior taxable gifts and then applies the exclusion to the total. However, in 2026 or later, this could result in a tax on amounts which weren’t taxable when gifted. This issue is the “clawback.” New Proposed Regulations resolve this issue. Read on to learn more.
Thanksgiving is a time for sharing. This article examines ways for giving effectively, both to loved ones or to charity. It examines the use of 529 plans and ABLE accounts for loved ones. It examines gifting of appreciated assets to charity and bunching charitable deductions for the most bang for the buck. Read on to learn more.
Transferring an ERISA account, like a 401(k), from one spouse to another can have substantial tax benefits, by delaying Required Minimum Distributions or avoiding early withdrawal penalties. However, one cannot simply transfer an account from one spouse to another under most circumstances without triggering adverse tax consequences. A Qualified Domestic Relations Order or “QDRO” avoids those adverse consequences. While a QDRO is most commonly used in a divorce context, divorce is not a requirement. Read on to learn more.
Giving back provides many benefits, whether in life or at death. The article explores ways of giving back and some of the tax benefits available, both during life and at death. The article provides a couple strategies to maximize the tax benefits, such as grouping deductions and doing a charitable IRA rollover.
Planning ahead is the loving thing to do. Whether it is for a Thanksgiving meal or for your estate plan, planning is imperative. This article points out the various consequences of your failure to plan, including the increased likelihood for family discord. Read on to learn how planning ahead can help achieve the desired results.
Whom should you name as the beneficiary of your IRA or Qualified Plan? Sometimes, it can be best to name a trust for your intended beneficiary. Read on to see the protections a trust can offer that a direct designation of the individual would not.