Charitable Planning in Times of Crisis
During times of uncertainty, we tend to feel helpless. This article explores how charitable giving gives us a sense of purpose in trying times. Read on to learn more.
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Don’t be a Turkey – Use Your Annual Per Donee Exclusion Amount
As fall turns into winter and the holiday season arrives, it’s natural to review the year, plan for the next, and count your blessings. One of the ways to plan for the next year, and perhaps to address some outstanding concerns in this one, is to consider making annual per donee exclusion gifts. This article will explore annual exclusion gifting and demonstrate how gifts of seemingly modest amounts can be a powerful estate planning tool. Read on to learn more.
The Kiddie Tax is No Child’s Game
If you set up a trust or other investment vehicle for your child, that child could incur taxes at a rate much higher than anticipated. The Kiddie Tax was enacted to prevent parents from transferring investments to the name of their child or children to take advantage of that child’s lower tax rate. Read on to learn more.
The Other Side of the Unauthorized Practice of Law
What happens when an individual who is not licensed to practice law provides advice to an individual – does the quality of the advice matter if the individual is unlicensed? This article explores the unauthorized practice of law and how it damages the legal profession.
Estate Planning Reduces Stress During High Anxiety Times
During times of high stress such as tragedy or emergency, we tend to feel helpless. This article explores how a comprehensive estate plan helps reduce anxiety in uncertain times.
Changing “Irrevocable” Trusts Through Use of a Trust Protector
Advisors often include irrevocable trusts as part of a comprehensive estate plan to achieve both tax and non-tax goals. The use of irrevocable trusts can cause apprehension because of the perception that irrevocable trusts are inflexible in changing circumstances. This article explores how the use of a trust protector may provide flexibility in an irrevocable trust to address these concerns.
Conservation Easements Can Be a Good Solution
Often, a client wants to keep land in the family. Sometimes they want to discourage further development and get tax benefits for doing so. A conservation easement can help achieve both objectives. Read on to learn more.
Changing “Irrevocable” Trusts Through Decanting
Irrevocable Trusts are often included as part of a comprehensive estate plan and are usually established many years before they pay out or terminate. These trusts didn’t change with changes in beneficiary circumstances or with evolving legislation, but now they can. This article explores how.
Changing “Irrevocable” Trusts Through Judicial and Nonjudicial Modification
Irrevocable Trusts have long been an effective, albeit static, estate planning tool. These trusts didn’t always change with circumstance, but now they can. This article explores how.
Donor Advised Funds: Too Good to Be True?
There’s a way to make a charitable gift and yet be able to influence where it goes and how it’s invested. This can be very handy if you want to time your charitable giving for income tax reasons. Read on to learn more.