The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act doubled the federal gift and estate tax exclusion amount, which had previously been $5 million (adjusted each year for inflation) per individual. The exclusion amount for 2020, including the adjustment for inflation, is $11.58 million. However, the increase Continue reading
Newsletter Category: Advisor Focused Newsletter
Planning for Millennials
Millennials (born 1981 to 1996) are well known for their distinctiveness as a group. They have followed paths and set goals that are decidedly different from those chosen by previous generations. They are highly diverse, better educated, more socially conscious, and wait longer to Continue reading
Helping Those Who Help Others
According to a 2015 study conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, approximately 43.5 million caregivers provided unpaid care to an adult or child during the prior 12 months. Those who have taken on the role of caregivers for ill or disabled spouses, aging parents, Continue reading
How to Help Your Client When a Loved One Dies
As your client’s trusted advisor, you may be the first person the family turns to when a family member or loved one passes away. Although it is important for your client to contact us soon to start the process of estate or trust administration, the shock and grief of losing a loved Continue reading
Estate Planning Awareness Week: Why Does Estate Planning Matter to Your Clients?
In 2008, Congress recognized the need for the public to understand the importance and benefits of estate planning by passing House Resolution 1499, which designated the third week of October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Nevertheless, according to a 2019 survey carried Continue reading
Modern Uses for Life Insurance Trusts
Since the enactment of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, the utility of the irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) has been in question. The substantial increase in the federal estate tax exemption–$11.4 million for an individual and $22.8 million for a married couple in 2019—greatly Continue reading
Income Tax Strategies to Move Your Clients Forward
The 2019 estate tax exemption is $11.4 million per person, up from $11.2 million per person in 2018. According to the Tax Policy Center, only 4,000 estate tax returns were filed this year, with only 1,900 of those returns owing tax. Some industry experts estimate that less than one Continue reading
Niche Trusts: A Chance to Collaborate
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it is that each client is unique.
Likewise, our approach to counseling these clients should be tailored to each one’s specific needs.
Let’s work together to develop special plans that fit each client’s special circumstances.
One key tool to Continue reading
The Revocable Living Trust: Helping Clients, Growing Your Practice
Prevention Is the Greatest Cure
Your clients trust you with their financial future and the legacy they want to leave behind. They rely on you to anticipate challenges, foresee trouble, and take preventative measures. When it comes to a client’s financial wellbeing, it is up to the Continue reading
Portability and Married Couples: A Viable Option
For maximum benefit, estate planning should happen as a team effort, with CPAs, insurance professionals, financial advisors, and attorneys working together strategically and cooperatively. When it comes to helping married couples plan, today’s strategies need to be considerably more Continue reading