Estate Planning Is No Longer Optional—Even If You’re Not a Millionaire

For years, the myth persisted: Estate planning is only for the ultra-wealthy. But if you're Gen X, a Boomer, or even one of the older Millennials, it's time to rethink that mindset. A lot has changed. And waiting until it's urgent could leave…

The Retirement Catch-Up Plan: Maximize Tax Savings in Your 40s and 50s

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You’ve hit your 40s or 50s, and suddenly, retirement doesn’t feel like a distant mirage. It’s real. The countdown is on. But here’s the good news: You’re in a prime position to play catch-up and fortify your future, using smart tax…

Why Updating Beneficiaries is Crucial After Life Changes  

Article Highlights: The Role of Beneficiaries Life Events That Necessitate Updates Why Regular Reviews Are Essential The Complexity of Naming a Trust as a Beneficiary In the realm of estate planning, naming beneficiaries is…

Is Your Trust or Will Up to Date?

Article Highlights:  Estate Tax Exclusion Why a Will or Trust? Life-Changing Circumstances Beneficiaries When was the last time you or your attorney reviewed or updated your will or trust? If it was some time ago before the…

Where is Estate Tax Going in the Future?

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA, often referred to as tax reform) generally became effective in 2018 and increased the federal estate and gift tax lifetime exclusion amount (LEA) from $5 million per person to $10 million per person. On top of…

Is Your Will or Trust Up-to-Date?

When was the last time you or your attorney reviewed or updated your will or trust? If it was before the passage of the 2017 tax reform legislation, or the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), your documents may be out of date. Among the many…
Gift and Estate Tax Primer

Gift and Estate Tax Primer

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The tax code places limits on the amounts that individuals can gift to others (as money or property) without paying taxes. This is meant to keep individuals from using gifts to avoid the estate tax that is imposed upon inherited assets. This…
Will Gifts Now Using the Temporarily Increased Gift-Estate Exclusion Harm Estates after 2025?

Will Gifts Now Using the Temporarily Increased Gift-Estate Exclusion Harm Estates after 2025?

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Individuals with large estates generally want to gift portions of their estate to beneficiaries while they are still living, to avoid or lessen the estate tax when they pass away. That can be done through annual gifts (up to the inflation-adjusted…
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How much life insurance do you need (if any)?

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Article by Anna Bahney | Found on CNN Before we deal with the downer of your death, let's talk about your life. Does anyone depend on you? Like, financially, depend on you? No? Then you're probably fine without life insurance. Of course,…
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Estate Planning Strategies Before Congress Acts On Tax Reform

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Article by Cara O'Brien | Found on AccountingToday.com Estate planning has once again entered the realm of uncertainty. We do not know if there will be new legislation regarding the estate and gift tax, nor do we know when such possible…