Estate Planning
Careless Spending Can Erode Income Gains
Episode 324 – If your income goes up over time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be able to save more. If you’re not careful, “lifestyle creep” can make things worse. Here are a few ideas on how to fight back against lifestyle creep. Continue Reading Careless Spending Can Erode Income Gains
Six Estate Planning Tips from Warren Buffett
Episode 323 – The investment wisdom of Warren Buffett is well known through his annual letter to shareholders. But he has some unique ideas about estate planning as well. Here are six of Buffett’s more important estate planning concepts. Continue Reading Six Estate Planning Tips from Warren Buffett
Business Succession Planning Needed More Now Than Ever
Episode 305 – It has never been a more important time to consider business succession planning for small business owners to ensure that their financial security, retirement and family legacy plans are fulfilled. Continue Reading Business Succession Planning Needed More Now Than Ever
Estate Tax Uncertainty – Will We or Won’t We? A Potential Solution for Married Couples
Episode 293 – As we get closer and closer to the sunset of the estate tax provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, wealthy married couples have options to remain flexible with their planning using survivorship life insurance. Continue Reading Estate Tax Uncertainty – Will We or Won’t We? A Potential Solution for Married Couples
Why Everyone Needs an Estate Plan
Episode 279 – Estate planning is the process of protecting your wealth and transferring a legacy to your heirs in the manner you wish. Everyone needs an estate plan regardless of wealth or lack of exposure to estate taxes. Continue Reading Why Everyone Needs an Estate Plan
Making the Right Choices With Your Wealth Revisited
Episode 278 – Regardless of what you want to do with your wealth, such as leaving it to family, charity, government, or spending it all, you will need to plan for your intended outcome. Doing nothing is not going to work. Continue Reading Making the Right Choices With Your Wealth Revisited
Fair Versus Equal – What’s the Legacy You Want to Leave to Your Children? – Revisited
Episode 276 – Fair vs equal. Leaving your estate in equal shares to each of your children may not necessarily be the most beneficial or effective for your children. Continue Reading Fair Versus Equal – What’s the Legacy You Want to Leave to Your Children? – Revisited
Estate Planning and Sibling Rivalry
Episode 265 – Previously dormant sibling rivalries tend to turn up when large sums of money are at stake. What estate planning steps can you take to help minimize the problem? Continue Reading Estate Planning and Sibling Rivalry
Massachusetts and Other States’ Estate Taxes
Episode 255 – Massachusetts is one of twelve states with a state estate tax. Even though it just raised its state estate tax exemption amount from $1 million to $2 million, you don’t have to be ultra-wealthy to be subject to estate taxes, so plan now. Continue Reading Massachusetts and Other States’ Estate Taxes
Don’t Be Like These Famous People—Get Your Will Done Revisited
Episode 243 – Estate planning is the process of protecting your wealth and transferring a legacy to your heirs in the manner you wish. Even the rich and famous fail to plan, resulting in disaster. Everyone needs a will and estate plan. Continue Reading Don’t Be Like These Famous People—Get Your Will Done Revisited
Optimize Your Estate Plan by Incorporating Life Insurance
Episode 240 – Life insurance is the ideal tool to optimize an estate plan. It provides the money at the right time to pay taxes, replace wealth and to enhance and perpetuate a family legacy. It also makes various estate planning strategies more efficient. Continue Reading Optimize Your Estate Plan by Incorporating Life Insurance
No Step-Up in Basis for Assets in a Grantor Trust
Episode 231 – The IRS released Revenue Ruling 2023-2 stating that assets held in a grantor trust do not receive a step-up in basis upon the grantor’s death. What does that mean? Continue Reading No Step-Up in Basis for Assets in a Grantor Trust
Six Big Mistakes People Make with Their Wills
Episode 226 – Just having a will is not enough. You need to get the details right. Here are 6 big mistakes we see people making when they structure their wills. Continue Reading Six Big Mistakes People Make with Their Wills
The Sad Case of Lisa Marie Presley
Episode 224 – Lisa Marie Presley’s death in January of this year came as a shock to many. But it’s just the beginning of the story. Continue Reading The Sad Case of Lisa Marie Presley
Estate Planning After Divorce or the Death of a Spouse
Episode 214 – Every year a substantial number of people go from married to single, either through divorce or death. A recent article looked at some of the estate planning steps you may need to take if it happens to you. Continue Reading Estate Planning After Divorce or the Death of a Spouse
Don’t Forget Facebook, iCloud, Gmail, LinkedIn and Your Other Digital Assets in Your Planning Revisited
Episode 211 – Most, if not all of us, own several forms of digital assets in the form of online accounts. These assets must be included in your estate plan. Failure to do so may result in the loss of financial value or sentimental and legacy value. Continue Reading Don’t Forget Facebook, iCloud, Gmail, LinkedIn and Your Other Digital Assets in Your Planning Revisited
IRS Extends Deadline to File for Portability of Estate Tax Exemption Amount
Episode 202 – IRS extends the deadline to file for portability of the estate tax exemption amount after the first spouse’s death. Continue Reading IRS Extends Deadline to File for Portability of Estate Tax Exemption Amount
Do You Need to Worry About Gift and Estate Taxes? A Look Back in History
Episode 195 – Estate and gift taxes are financial considerations only for the wealthy, right? Maybe, maybe not! It depends! Continue Reading Do You Need to Worry About Gift and Estate Taxes? A Look Back in History
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – What Does This Mean for You?
Episode 192 – On August 16, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 to expand affordable healthcare and combat climate change. It did not materially impact income and estate tax planning. Continue Reading Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – What Does This Mean for You?
Making the Right Choices With Your Wealth
Episode 190 – Regardless of what you want to do with your wealth, such as leaving it to family, charity, government, or spending it all, you will need to plan for your intended outcome. Doing nothing is not going to work. Continue Reading Making the Right Choices With Your Wealth
Fair Versus Equal – What’s the Legacy You Want to Leave to Your Children?
Episode 170 – Fair vs equal. Leaving your estate in equal shares to each of your children may not necessarily be the most beneficial or effective for your children. Continue Reading Fair Versus Equal – What’s the Legacy You Want to Leave to Your Children?
The Solution to Estate Tax Planning Fatigue
Episode 165 – Life insurance can be used to avoid estate tax planning fatigue caused by ever-changing tax laws and political environments. Continue Reading The Solution to Estate Tax Planning Fatigue
You’ve Been Named the Trustee of an ILIT – Now What?
Episode 164 – Trustees of irrevocable life insurance trusts or ILITs are often family members or friends of the trust creator, who are not familiar with the many duties and responsibilities that the role requires. Continue Reading You’ve Been Named the Trustee of an ILIT – Now What?
Changes to Key Estate Tax Planning Numbers in 2022
Episode 161 – The inability of Congress to reduce by half the $11.7 million estate and gift tax exemption amount in 2021, leaves us with an even higher exemption amount for 2022. Continue Reading Changes to Key Estate Tax Planning Numbers in 2022