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Feb
2017 Brings Big Changes for Captive Insurance Owners: The PATH Act Diversification Tests for Section 831(b) Captive Insurance Companies
In 2015, Congress passed the PATH Act, enacting substantial changes to the law governing captive insurance companies, Internal Revenue Code Section 831(b). This article briefly discusses how those changes affect the use of captives in combination with certain estate planning te...
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Feb
No Wills, Old Wills, Trust Mills and other Estate Planning Ills
In estate planning consultations, I often tell clients that for most people, having no estate plan is better than having a badly drafted or very old one. North Carolina probate law contains default provisions for those who die “intestate,” or without a will (or trust). Those defa...
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Feb
Helping Aging Families Qualify For State Assistance Without Going Broke: A Financial Rock And A Hard Place
As the baby boom generation ages at the same time that health care costs are rising, many middle class elderly individuals and their families face the prospect of paying enormous health care costs. Chief among these is the cost of skilled nursing facilities, which range from $5,0...
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Feb
How a Testamentary Special Needs Trust Made a World of Difference for a Middle Class Family How a Testamentary Special Needs Trust Made a World of Difference for a Middle Class Family, Medicaid Benefits
The specter of Long Term Care costs haunts many otherwise happy, seemingly, financially secure, middle class families. It's scary to contemplate the possibility that a medical event or end-of-life illness could undo literally decades of mindful saving. What can these famili...
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Feb
Thinking Through Year End and New Year Taxes
As we approach the end of 2016, we at Strauss Attorneys, PLLC would like to remind you of measures you can take to minimize your income tax liability. By taking proactive steps to secure credits and deductions, or accelerating or postponing income or deductions, a savvy taxpayer ...
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Feb
The End of Valuation Discounts is Coming: Proposed Regulations to Section 2704
Copyright 2016, WealthCounsel, LLC The days of reducing gift and estate tax through valuation discounts for closely-held family businesses appear to be coming to an end. After months of anticipation, the U. S. Treasury has released proposed regulations that will significantly re...
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Feb
Life Insurance, the Forgotten Asset Class
Estate Taxes are not the only reason to own Life Insurance. Life Insurance can be regarded as a vital, asset class separate from other savings and investments that adds diversification and certain unique benefits. With the November 2016 presidential and Congressional Election loo...
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Feb
Elder Exploitation and Financial Abuse: Marking the 10th Anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
June 15th, 2016 marks the 10th anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Please read below for some important signs of Elder Abuse that can help you detect whether your loved ones or friends may be at risk of becoming a victim. Elder Exploitation and Financial Abuse It is...
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Feb
Inherited Trust Shares and Divorce – Protecting your Children
Among the most important benefits of holding assets in a living trust is ensuring that they pass to beneficiaries protected from creditors, for instance, from a child’s divorcing spouse. A testamentary gift to your child outright and in their own name can be considered part of th...
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Feb
Why Everyone Should Have a Health Care Power of Attorney
A Health Care Power of Attorney is a document that authorizes another person to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so. There are many different situations that could result in a person being unable to make or communicate medical decisions and these situations ...
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Feb
More for Christmas, Less for the IRS – Saving Money with Year End Tax Planning
Executive Summary Most year-end income tax planning strategies fall into two broad categories: first, maximizing available credits and deductions, and second, accelerating and postponing income and deductions. The heart of intelligent income tax planning is taking advantage of c...
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Feb
The Many Pieces of Resting in Peace
For many people, end of life planning means having a good will and a better prayer. Some may also think about doing a trust, healthcare power of attorney, living will, long term care planning and even talking things over with family. But many people fail to think about funeral a...
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