by Christine | Oct 28, 2011 | Estate Planning, Tax Planning |
There may, in fact, be a free lunch somewhere, but a QTIP is not one. Blended families are a fairly normal part of modern life, with both divorces and remarriages becoming quite common. That said, this fact of life accounts for a good portion of the family baggage of...
by Christine | Oct 27, 2011 | Estate Planning, Tax Planning |
A new IRS gift tax compliance initiative responds to suspicions of widespread failure to file gift tax returns. Surprise. It’s a big year for the IRS and they’ve been opening many new fronts in the drive to assert tax law compliance. One of the largest and most unique...
by Christine | Oct 26, 2011 | Estate Planning |
Life insurance really isn't as frightening or complex as it seems. It's actually a fantastically useful and flexible estate-planning tool that can provide income-tax-free security for your loved ones. It can also provide liquidity to pay estate taxes,...
by Christine | Oct 25, 2011 | Estate Planning |
America’s big charities expect fund raising to rise in 2011, but the increase won’t come close to making up ground they lost in the downturn. Have we bounced back from the Great Recession or are we still languishing (and due for another fall backwards)? This is a hot...
by Christine | Oct 24, 2011 | Elder Law, Long Term Care Insurance, Medi-Cal Long Term Care |
There is still the problem to solve about how we’ll care for our frail elderly in the years ahead, and it’s unclear what the path to a solution will be. After the shouting subsides, we’re still left with an inadequate, patchwork system for funding long-term care in...
by Christine | Oct 21, 2011 | Estate Planning |
The death of Steve Jobs has sparked conversation about the motivations and merits that surround anonymous giving. And for those who either eschew the spotlight or hold to a religious tradition that espouses anonymous donation, giving in secret sounds downright...
by Christine | Oct 20, 2011 | Estate Planning, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning |
To follow in [Reverend Crummey’s] footsteps, set up a trust and have it buy a life insurance policy on your life. Someday when you die, the trust will receive the insurance proceeds and pay them out to the beneficiaries listed in your trust. When you’re looking to...
by Christine | Oct 19, 2011 | Conservatorships, Elder Law |
As baby boomers age — and economic upheaval keeps people in the workforce longer — the issue of how to deal with employees with dementia and cognitive impairment will continue to be kicked around the nation’s courtrooms and boardrooms. Do you have a loved one with...
by Christine | Oct 13, 2011 | Estate Planning, Tax Planning |
Simply defined, a charitable remainder trust allows you to transfer cash or assets to the trust — from which you may receive income for life or, if you prefer, a fixed term not to exceed 20 years. The income can be paid over your life, your spouse’s life and even the...
by Christine | Oct 12, 2011 | Estate Planning, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning |
Many people want to use part of their estate to help charities they believe in—leaving a legacy of helping out the less fortunate, nurturing the arts or supporting other important causes. Giving to charity over your lifetime can be powerful. Not only can you make an...
