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…
How Remodeling a Client’s Trust Can Retain Assets Under Management while Saving Clients Money
It’s a common misconception that clients can take a “set-it-and-leave-it” approach to trusts. Just as homes or office buildings must be remodeled or updated from time to time, a trust-centered estate plan can often benefit from a remodel or refresh. Although the principle of trust-centered estate planning has stood the test of time, there are many reasons that may necessitate a remodel for an old…
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…
Ready? Okay! The Team Approach to Client Service in 2018 and Beyond
How are you planning to strengthen your client relationships in the new year? Effective collaboration as a client-service wealth team helps your clients trust you, creates better client retention, and yields greater opportunities for placement of appropriate products and growing assets under management. Estate planning is about much more than just taxes Many professionals see estate planning as a tax-focused discipline. However, estate planning encompasses…
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).…
What to Expect from Estate Planning in 2018
2017 is now fading into the rearview mirror. As we all look ahead to 2018, let’s consider a few things to watch regarding estate planning, so you and your family can be completely protected. ● The death tax. The death tax has been in a state of flux ever since the early 2000s when the Bush administration’s first tax cuts changed the exemption and tax…