Have You or Your Loved Ones Used These Excuses to Avoid Estate Planning?
We all have those nagging to-do items that never seem to make it to the top of our list, even though we know how important they are. Maybe it is […]
National Centenarians Day: Planning for a Longer Life (and Legacy)
Who wants to live to be 100? That depends on who you ask. Whatever the answer, one thing is clear: The odds of reaching that milestone are rising, along with […]
Stepfamily Day: Smart Estate Planning for Blended Families
Happy National Stepfamily Day to all who celebrate it! Amid shifting family structures, there is a good chance that you are part of a stepfamily—or know somebody who is—which makes […]
Happy National 401(k) Day!
Bookending the first week of September with Labor Day is a less recognized holiday that may not get much national attention but should if you are planning for your future: […]
Undoing an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust: Options and Alternatives in a Changing Estate Tax Landscape
The irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) has long been a staple of estate planning. However, due to the dramatic rise in the federal lifetime gift and estate tax exemption over the past few decades, ILITs are losing some of their luster.
Planning for Real Estate in a Foreign Country
Living abroad is very different from spending a few weeks there. In addition to the challenges of adapting to a foreign culture, prospective buyers must be aware of the financial, legal, and tax implications of buying real estate abroad before signing the dotted line.
Estate Planning for Military Families
It is always good for members of the military and their loved ones to create or revisit their estate plan. Military families face unique estate planning considerations that others do not, especially when a family member is deployed overseas or receives a temporary duty assignment. In addition, service members have access to special benefits and resources that can add complexity to the planning process, so seeking guidance if you are a military family is important.
Is an Income-Tax Time Bomb Lurking in Your Estate Plan?
As the federal estate tax exemption has ballooned from $5 million in 2011 to $13.99 million today, the need for estate tax planning has drastically decreased. However, with a top marginal income tax rate of 37 percent, the focus of estate planning has shifted to a new frontier: income tax basis planning.
Does Treating Your Children Fairly Mean Unequal Inheritances?
When thinking through their estate plan and how they want their assets managed after they pass away, most parents wish to treat their children equally, often out of a sense of fairness. However, sometimes being fair or doing what is right by your children may mean giving unequal inheritances.
Being Deployed? Here Is What You Need to Do
You have just received your orders, and you will be deployed shortly. No matter how soon you are leaving, there is still time to ensure that your affairs are in order.