August / September
Showing 321–336 of 469 results
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Estate Planning Pitfall — You haven’t covered all your bases since your divorce
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 296
Abstract: This brief article lists several estate planning and financial arrangements that are easily overlooked following a divorce, including retirement accounts, jointly owned assets, and powers of attorney.
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Is your estate liquid enough to cover estate taxes?
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 664
Abstract: Unless an estate plan provides sufficient liquidity to pay estate taxes and other expenses, it may be at risk. This article examines various liquidity tools, including irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs); buy-sell agreements; IRAs, 401(k) plans and other tax-advantaged retirement plans; and traditional investments in stocks, bonds and mutual funds. If those liquidity tools prove inadequate, there are several postmortem strategies that heirs can use to soften the blow of estate taxes.
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Estate planning 101 — Choosing a trustee for your living trust
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 688
Abstract: Transferring assets to a living trust can help ensure an estate will avoid the time-consuming, potentially expensive and public process of probate. One can serve as the trust’s trustee during life, but must choose a trustee to oversee and administer the trust after death. This article describes the duties of a trustee and the two types of trustee to choose from. It also notes the importance of providing guidance from the start.
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Decanting breathes new life into an old trust
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1064
Abstract: “Decanting” can breathe new life into an irrevocable trust. This process allows a trustee to use his or her distribution powers to “pour” funds from one trust into another trust with different terms, thereby providing the trustee with added flexibility to adapt a trust in light of changing tax laws or family circumstances. But decanting laws vary dramatically from state to state. This article describes some of these differences and their effect on estate planning goals. A sidebar mentions a few of the tax implications of decanting.
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Start organizing your tax records now!
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 311
Abstract: As summer fades into fall, it’s the perfect time to start organizing 2012 tax records. By gathering information about year-to-date income and deductions now, one can consider actions that could minimize taxes. Being organized is especially important in 2012, given the uncertainty about what will happen with the tax law. Tax rate increases are scheduled for 2013, but it’s important to be ready to quickly adjust strategies should tax law changes be passed before then. This article lists some of the documents to compile to support deductions and credits.
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Family business owners: Did you pick the right successor?
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 737
Abstract: It happens all the time — the owner of a family business picks his or her successor but, after a period of time, concludes that he or she is the wrong person for the job. This article offers some options to consider for those who are in such a situation. It looks at actions that can help if the successor is capable of eventually running the business effectively, and at actions that may be necessary if it’s determined that he or she needs to go. It also discusses improving the succession process itself.
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LTC insurance — Taking a close look before buying is essential
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 805
Abstract: Few people want to think about the possibility that they might need long-term care (LTC). But it’s important to do so. Why? Because, if not planned for, the costs of LTC can be ruinous. This article shows the importance of balancing the value of LTC insurance benefits with the cost of the premiums. To help prospective purchasers do so, it also explains some of the terminology used in LTC policies.
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How PEOs can help you handle employee-related tasks
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Focus
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 922
Abstract: One way companies can reduce the employee-regulation workload is to engage a professional employer organization (PEO). A PEO can handle many employee-related tasks, such as administering payroll and employee benefits; collecting, reporting and depositing employment taxes; and developing employee handbooks. Essentially, the PEO becomes a co-employer. This article examines the legal and financial pros and cons, while a sidebar explains that it’s important to perform due diligence before hiring a PEO.
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Practical Perspectives: Key financial issues for you and your family — Curious couple learns about college tax credits
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Trendlines
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 505
Abstract: This issue’s “Practical Perspectives” discusses the case of Jeffrey and Samantha, who are sending their daughter off to college this fall and are looking for some tax relief for the costs they’ll incur. Their financial advisor mentions two specific credits — the American Opportunity credit and the Lifetime Learning credit — and discusses which one might be best for their specific circumstances.
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Moneylines: News briefs for businesses
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Trendlines
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 332
Abstract: In this issue, “Moneylines” describes how internal auditors are shifting their main focus away from Sarbanes-Oxley act compliance; an increasing tendency by small to midsize businesses to loosen their purse strings; and the efforts of a substantial number of companies to operate more sustainably.
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Is your company’s 401(k) plan ready for year end
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Trendlines
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 734
Abstract: Companies offering employees a 401(k) plan need to check on a number of items well before year end. And this holds true whether they self-administer their plan or use a third-party administrator. This article lists some of the questions to ask and describes tests to perform. It also notes the importance of reviewing enrollment materials and considering specific changes to make to a plan before January.
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Foggy future — Estate tax law uncertainties call for flexibility
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Trendlines
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1126
Abstract: Unless Congress acts before year end, significant changes will take place on Jan. 1, 2013: The current $5.12 million gift and estate tax exemption will drop to $1 million, and the top rate of 35% will increase to 55%. These uncertainties call for estate plan flexibility. This article illustrates a variety of ways to do so, including making large gifts, having beneficiaries use qualified disclaimers, or setting up a credit shelter trust. A sidebar discusses two other trusts: a grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT) and the charitable lead annuity trust (CLAT).
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IFRS progress report: Standards boards and SEC discuss details
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Public Company Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 370
Abstract: Recently, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the International Accounting Standards Board released an update on the status of their project to converge U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles with International Financial Reporting Standards. This article lists the four remaining priority projects.
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Reverse mergers suffer potentially fatal blows
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Public Company Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 640
Abstract: In recent years, many private companies have relied on the reverse merger as a quicker and cheaper alternative to a traditional initial public offering. However, as this article explains, recent SEC rules and congressional legislation have created additional hurdles for reverse mergers, effectively eliminating many advantages of such transactions.
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Short-swing profits rule — Supreme Court protects corporate insiders
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Public Company Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 769
Abstract: This article discusses a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision rejecting the Ninth Circuit’s 30-year-old rule allowing shareholders to file claims for recovery of short-swing profits years after the fact. In a case alleging insider collusion to drive up a post-IPO stock price, a district court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaints, citing the two-year statute of limitations. The Ninth Circuit reversed, asserting that the two-year-period was tolled (suspended). But the Supreme Court disagreed, sending the case back to the lower courts to apply standard equitable tolling principles.
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How does the JOBS Act affect public companies?
August / September 2012
Newsletter: Public Company Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1060
Abstract: The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, signed into law earlier this year, primarily benefits privately held companies, making it easier for them to raise capital without going public. It also reduces the cost of an initial public offering (IPO) and eases regulatory burdens for many private companies. However, as this article explains, the act also contains potential benefits for companies that are already publicly held, and will benefit a new class of issuers known as emerging-growth companies. A sidebar lists additional JOBS Act provisions that make it easier for private companies to raise capital.