A will or trust contest can derail your final wishes, rapidly deplete your estate, and tear your loved ones apart. But with proper planning, you can prevent a disastrous will or trust contest. In ...
4 Tips for Avoiding a Will or Trust Contest
A will or trust contest can derail your final wishes, rapidly deplete your estate, and tear your loved ones apart. But with proper planning, you can help your family avoid a potentially disastrous ...
Make an Achievable 2015 New Year’s Resolution – Get an Estate Plan Checkup!
With 2015 right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about your new year’s resolutions. It doesn’t matter whether you have an estate plan or don’t, one important item to add to your ...
The Clock is Ticking on Maxing Out Your 2014 Retirement Plan Contributions
With the end of 2014 fast approaching, now is the time to take a look at your year-to-date retirement plan contributions to see where yours stand when compared with the 2014 contribution limits. Summa...
Time is Running Out for Certain Estates to Make the Federal Portability Election
As a result of a 2010 tax law, a surviving spouse can receive his or her deceased spouse’s unused estate tax exemption. This is called a “portability” election. You may have seen it called the ...
2015 Changes to State Death Taxes
If you live or own property in one of the 20 jurisdictions listed below, then you may have a state death tax issue that requires planning. Currently 20 U.S. jurisdictions collect a death tax at the st...
2015 Inflation Adjustments
The Internal Revenue Service has released the official inflation adjustments that will affect 2015 federal reporting for estate taxes, gift taxes, generation-skipping transfer taxes, and estate and tr...
An Estate Planning Checklist to Facilitate Wealth Transfer
Studies have shown that 70% of family wealth is lost by the end of the second generation and 90% by the end of the third. Help your loved ones avoid becoming one of these statistics. You need to educa...
Year End Estate Planning Tip #5 – Make Gifts that Your Family Will Love but the IRS Won’t Tax
Don’t let the chaos of the holiday season prevent you from avoiding federal gift tax by making “annual exclusion” gifts, medical payments gifts, and educational gifts. Make Annual Exclusion Gift...
Year End Estate Planning Tip #4 – Check the Privacy of Your Estate Plan
With the end of the year fast approaching, now is the time to fine tune your estate plan before you get caught up in the chaos of the holiday season. One area of planning that many people overlook is ...