If you are preparing to send your son or daughter off to college to pursue higher education, you may be wondering how their first semester of school will go. During this exciting new chapter in your family’s life, the last thing you may be thinking about is estate planning for your college-aged child. While your child may not have any assets (yet), once he or…
Taking Full Advantage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Key Points to Discuss With Your Clients Like all things, tax laws are constantly changing. An important part of serving your clients is responding quickly and strategically to new developments in the tax law landscape. But at the same time, a knee-jerk reaction is rarely the best course of action—often resulting in unforeseen complications in the future. The best decisions are made by professional teams…
Which Asset Protection Strategies Are Right for Your Clients?
How You Can Keep Legal Claims From Threatening Their Property? Most of us do not expect to be sued. However, lawsuits are filed every day the courthouses are open. If your clients’ estate plans don’t include adequate asset protection, they could end up losing a substantial amount of their wealth in the event of a claim – even a “frivolous” one. It’s well worth talking…
3 Things You Must Do Once Your Divorce Is Final
The divorce process can be long and expensive. However, the work does not end once the divorce decree is signed. In order to ensure that your assets and estate planning wishes are carried out in light of this major life change, there are three things you must do as soon as possible. Change Beneficiary Designation On Life Insurance A life insurance policy is a contract…
Solve the Troubled Adult Child Beneficiary Dilemma in Three Easy Steps
How to Plan a Successful Financial Future for Every Family Many clients with concerns about a struggling adult child are apprehensive about discussing such a sensitive topic. But broaching this subject can lead to a number of benefits for all parties involved — for the family, for the adult child, and for you as their professional advisors. Working with us rounds out the team of…
Does Your Family Know About Your Estate Plan?
A Guide for How Much to Share and With Whom It’s the thick of tax season and you’ve probably been working on (or recently finished) your income tax returns. Most of us don’t feel comfortable sharing the details of our tax returns, unless we have to – for example when applying for a mortgage. But your estate plan, an important part of having your affairs…
Planning Your Summer Vacation? 5 Things to Consider Now
Hopefully with the last of the season’s Nor’easters behind us, winter will soon start to thaw and flowers will begin to bud. This can only mean one thing: summer vacation planning season is here. As vacation planning kicks into high gear, here are a few important things to add to your vacation readiness checklist. Guardian nomination – if you have minor children If it’s just…
Will My Debt Outlive Me? Your Questions About Debt After Death Answered
Have you ever wondered what would happen to your debts if you passed away before paying them off? Will your loved ones be obligated to pay your debts or will they simply disappear? Every person’s debt landscape is different, and the best approach is to create a tailor-made estate planning strategy to make sure your debt doesn’t come back to haunt your family after you’re…
How Tax Reform Will Impact You and Your Estate Planning
In December 2017, Congress passed, and President Trump signed a sweeping tax reform bill commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This Act contains significant changes that will impact your estate planning and income tax situation going forward. Estate Tax Changes Starting January 1, 2018, the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemptions double from $5 million to $10 million (adjusted for…
Tax Reform: Solutions for Your Clients and Their Estate Planning
In December 2017, Congress passed, and President Trump signed a sweeping tax reform bill commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This new Act contains several significant changes that will impact your clients and their estate planning. Estate Tax Changes Starting January 1, 2018, the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemptions double from $5 million to $10 million (adjusted for inflation).…