The process of estate planning can seem overwhelming to a layperson, and admittedly, there are some intricacies that enter the picture. This being stated, there are essentially four boxes to check when you plan your estate, and we will look at them here. Asset Transfer Vehicle When you plan your estate, you have to facilitate postmortem transfers to your heirs. A simple will is an option, but it will not be the right choice unless the situation is stripped-down and very … [Read more...] about Cover These Four Estate Planning Bases
Can You Give Gifts to Avoid Estate Taxes?
The federal estate tax looms large for high net worth individuals because it carries a very hefty 40 percent rate. It is imposed on the portion of an estate that exceeds the amount of the exclusion, and in 2021, the federal estate tax exclusion is $11.7 million. You do not have to be concerned about paying the tax on transfers to your spouse, because there is an unlimited marital deduction. This gives you the ability to transfer any amount of property to your spouse tax-free, but there is one … [Read more...] about Can You Give Gifts to Avoid Estate Taxes?
How Can You Protect a Spendthrift Heir?
If you have someone in the family that is a poor money manager, you may have serious reservations when you are devising your estate plan. This individual may burn through their inheritance quickly and be left with nowhere to turn in the future, and this can definitely be a cause for concern. Fortunately, they are steps you can take to protect a spendthrift heir, and we will look at a commonly embraced solution in this post. Revocable Living Trust Under these circumstances, you can establish … [Read more...] about How Can You Protect a Spendthrift Heir?
Why Do People Avoid Probate?
Many people form a false impression about the way that an estate is administered when a last will was executed by the decedent. They think that the will is read to family members by the executor, and after everyone knows what it contains, the executor distributes the resources. In reality, this is not the way that it works. The will would be admitted to probate, and the executor would handle the estate administration tasks under the supervision of the court. Probate Drawbacks Probate gives … [Read more...] about Why Do People Avoid Probate?
Estate Administration: Efficiency Is Key
When you plan your estate, you should see the big picture. Yes, you have to decide exactly how you want your assets to be distributed after you are gone. At the same time, it is wise to consider the process of estate administration, because it can impact your decisions. In this post, we will provide some useful information that may help you make the right choice. Wills and Probate If you use a last will as your vehicle of asset transfer, you would name an executor or personal representative … [Read more...] about Estate Administration: Efficiency Is Key
What Is a Letter of Final Instructions?
It is important to think about the way that your wishes are going to be carried out after you pass away when you are planning your estate. Unfortunately, far too many people fail to see the big picture. We are not trying to compare a holiday to the afterlife in a flippant sense, but the following is a useful analogy. Let’s say that you are going on vacation for a month, and you have a friend that is going to take care of things while you are away. You are not simply going to say, okay, … [Read more...] about What Is a Letter of Final Instructions?
Preparing for Coronavirus
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is spreading in the United States and across the globe. Learn what steps you can take to prepare yourself and help prevent its spread. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Preparing for Coronavirus
Income Tax Basis in Estate Planning
Income tax basis is important in estate planning. This article examines what happens to an asset’s basis when it is gifted. It then examines what happens to the basis of an asset when someone dies with the asset and then bequeaths it to someone. Many people find it surprising that these are treated differently. Income tax basis is an important factor in considering estate planning strategies. Income Tax Basis in Estate Planning … [Read more...] about Income Tax Basis in Estate Planning
How Will You Obtain the Care You Need?
What’s the right direction for you in planning for the help you might need in the future? Seven in ten of us will need long-term care at some point in our lives. Here are possible paths for covering the assistance you may need. How Will You Obtain the Care You Need? … [Read more...] about How Will You Obtain the Care You Need?
Income Tax Basis
Income tax basis is important in tax and estate planning. This article examines the concept of income tax basis, how one acquires a basis, how it gets adjusted, etc. The article then examines how the basis is subtracted from the sale price to determine gain or loss. The next article in the series will examine how income tax basis is an important factor in estate planning. Income Tax Basis … [Read more...] about Income Tax Basis