Estate Planner
EST
Showing 1–16 of 356 results
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Estate Planning Red Flag – Your spouse’s estate didn’t make a portability election
September / October 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 356
Abstract: Portability helps minimize federal gift and estate taxes by allowing a surviving spouse to use a deceased spouse’s unused gift and estate tax exemption amount. But, as this brief article explains, portability isn’t automatically available; it requires the deceased spouse’s executor to make a portability election on a timely filed estate tax return.
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Addressing an art collection in an estate plan can be tricky
September / October 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 687
Abstract: Some assets pose more of a challenge than others when it comes to valuing and accounting for them in an estate plan. Take, for instance, an art collection. Paintings, sculptures or other pieces of art likely represent a significant portion of their estates. This article details options to address an art collection in an estate plan.
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Pros and cons of custodial accounts for minors
September / October 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 611
Abstract: Setting up an investment account for a minor child can be a tax-efficient way of saving for college or other expenses. And one of the simplest ways to invest on the child’s behalf is to open a custodial account under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA). This article discusses the pluses and minuses of custodial accounts for minors.
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Estate planning for the happily married – Hedge your bets with a SLAT
September / October 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 895
Abstract: One of the biggest challenges of estate planning is dealing with uncertainty. For example, there’s uncertainty over whether the gift and estate tax exemption will be halved in 2026, not to mention growing economic uncertainty. What if an individual gives away substantial amounts of wealth now, but if financial circumstances change for the worse in the future he or she will need additional funds? One solution is using a spousal limited access trust, sometimes referred to as a spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT). This article explains how a SLAT works. A brief sidebar explains the ins and outs of having spouses each create their own SLAT.
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Estate Planning Red Flag – You’ve been asked to serve as executor
July / August 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 296
Abstract: Being named as the executor of an estate comes with great responsibility. Before agreeing to serve, it’s important to understand the duties and potential risks of being an executor. This brief article provides a list of questions to consider before accepting the offer.
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Single? No kids? Here’s why you still need an estate plan
July / August 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 632
Abstract: There’s a common misconception that only married couples with children need an estate plan. In fact, estate planning may be even more important for single people without children. Why? Because for married couples, the law makes certain assumptions about who should make financial or medical decisions on their behalf should they become incapacitated and who should inherit their property if they die. This article explains the possible undesirable outcomes that may result if a single person dies or becomes incapacitated without an estate plan.
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Moving abroad can upset your tax and estate plans
July / August 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 625
Abstract: There are many reasons to move to another country, including for retirement or an overseas job opportunity. As this article discusses, before pulling up stakes, it’s in one’s best interest to consider the income, gift and estate planning tax consequences of making such a move.
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Asset protection – How to shield your wealth from lawsuits and creditors
July / August 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 977
Abstract: Much of estate planning focuses on transferring wealth to loved ones in a tax-efficient manner. But for many people, it’s equally important to protect that wealth against frivolous lawsuits or baseless creditors’ claims. This article explores asset protection strategies to consider if a person’s business, professional or personal activities expose his or her assets to attack by unscrupulous litigants or creditors. A brief sidebar details the foreign reporting requirements when using an offshore trust.
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Estate Planning Red Flag – You own one or more guns
May / June 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 311
Abstract: When it comes to estate planning, not all assets are created equal. For those who own one or more guns, careful planning is required to avoid running afoul of complex federal and state laws. Without proper planning, there’s a risk that the government will confiscate the guns or that an estate’s executor, trustees or beneficiaries will inadvertently commit a felony. This brief article explores the complications of incorporating one’s gun collection in his or her estate plan.
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Avoiding challenges to your estate plan
May / June 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 578
Abstract: A primary goal of estate planning is to ensure that a person’s wishes are carried out after he or she is gone. So, it’s important to design one’s estate plan to withstand potential will contests or other challenges down the road. The most common grounds for contesting a will are undue influence or lack of testamentary capacity. Other grounds include fraud and invalid execution. This article details strategies to use to reduce the chances of one’s will being challenged after death.
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Health care directive – An important part of any estate plan, but the terminology can get complex
May / June 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 708
Abstract: A health care directive is a critical piece of one’s overall estate plan. Why? It allows a person to communicate their preferences in advance for medical care in the event of incapacitation and the loss of the ability to communicate health care wishes. However, depending on one’s jurisdiction, a directive can go by several different names, including living wills, advance medical directives and directives to physicians. This article defines various terms associated with a health care directive.
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You’ve received an inheritance: Now what?
May / June 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 876
Abstract: For those who’ve received, or will soon receive, a significant inheritance, it may be tempting to view it as “found money” that can be spent freely. But unless one’s current financial plan ensures that he or she will comfortably reach all their goals, it’s a good idea to have a plan for managing the newfound wealth. This article answers several questions that should be considered after receiving an inheritance. A brief sidebar explains how to handle an inherited retirement plan.
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Estate Planning Red Flag – You haven’t reviewed your life insurance needs recently
March / April 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 301
Abstract: Life insurance is a powerful tool for providing for one’s family in the event of a person’s untimely death. The amount of life insurance that’s right for an individual depends on his or her personal circumstances. This brief article explains why it’s critical to review life insurance needs regularly in light of changing circumstances.
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Think twice before splitting charitable bequests
March / April 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 531
Abstract: When an individual leaves property to charity in his or her will or revocable trust, it’s reasonable to assume that it won’t be subject to estate tax. After all, the charitable estate tax deduction excludes the value of donated property from the estate. This article explains that if one splits a charitable bequest of property among two or more charities, his or her heirs may be in for an unpleasant tax surprise.
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To file or not to file a gift tax return, that is the question
March / April 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 749
Abstract: Those who made gifts last year may be wondering if they need to file a gift tax return. The short answer is that there are many situations in which it’s necessary (or desirable) to file Form 709 — “United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return” — even if one isn’t liable for gift taxes. This article details the situations where gifts are considered nontaxable and explains a few tax traps to be aware of.
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GST taxes – Plan carefully to avoid surprises
March / April 2022
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 966
Abstract: Designed to ensure that wealth is taxed at each generational level, the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax is among the harshest and most complex in the tax code. It’s also among the most misunderstood. For example, while the gift and estate tax exemption automatically protects eligible transfers of wealth, the GST tax exemption must be allocated to a transfer to shelter it from tax. This article explains how the GST tax works, lists three types of transfers that trigger GST tax and details automatic allocation traps. A brief sidebar explores how to properly use the GST tax exclusion.