03

Aug

Estate Planning – A Process, Not an Event

You have signed all of your estate planning documents and, if your plan includes trusts, completed their funding. You sit back, relax, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with completing that task. But don't bask in that feeling for too long—estate planning is an o...

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03

Aug

The Door Is Closing – Unique Gift and Estate Planning Opportunities in 2012

2012 is truly an exceptional year to do estate planning. The estate, gift, income and generation skipping transfer (GST) tax laws are the most favorable to taxpayers since the 1940s, or possibly ever, and are scheduled to become far less favorable in 2013. That gives taxpayers li...

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03

Aug

New Law Creates Exciting Planning Opportunities

The purpose of this newsletter is to inform you of changes in the law and to provide planning information and general financial news. These newsletters also give me a chance to share new techniques to enhance your planning, as well as to help you to stay current with tactics desi...

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03

Aug

Planning for Disability

No one likes to think about the possibility of their own disability or the disability of a loved one. However, as we'll see below, the statistics are clear that we should all plan for at least a temporary disability. This issue of The Wealth Advisor examines the eye-opening...

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03

Aug

Who Should Be Your Successor Trustee?

If you have a revocable living trust, you probably named yourself as trustee so you can continue to manage your own financial affairs, but eventually someone will need to step in for you when you are no longer able to act due to incapacity or after your death. The Successor Trust...

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03

Aug

Estate Planning for Unmarried Partners

Estate planning creates a set of instructions specifying how your property is handled after death. While important for everyone, estate planning is critical for unmarried partners-opposite sex or same sex. Avoid the State Default PlanIn a way, everyone has an estate plan...

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03

Aug

Sample Letter to the Family

We often encourage clients to write a letter of wishes or instruction to their family regarding their estate plan. Below is a sample: February 26, 2013 To J_______, S_____, S______, B_______, S__, J______, and our Trustees, It’s six years since we put our estate plan into place a...

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03

Aug

Estate Tax Update

On January 2, 2013 President Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) into law. Many of the temporary provisions from prior tax acts were made permanent ending much confusion and speculation. Federal Estate, Gift and GST Taxes − The estate tax, gift tax and generation...

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03

Aug

Successful Estate Planning: A Six Step Process

STEP ONE: Define Your GoalsWhat do you want to happen to your assets in the event of your death or disability? If your beneficiaries predecease you, who are your alternate selections? How will your assets be distributed, and when will these distributions take place? Decisions on...

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03

Aug

Do you own a Gun?

Recent tragic events highlight the importance of maintaining a dialogue about the responsible, accountable and safe possession and transfer of firearms in our country. This is why it’s critically important for every law-abiding gun owner to stay abreast of all the complex and evo...

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