| Article |
Summary |
| How to Fund Your Trust |
This article discusses two options in funding your trust – a general power of appointment and a lifetime QTIP. Both strategies address the general desire of a wealthier spouse to control the assets and to achieve estate tax savings. |
Creative Uses of Life Insurance |
The fundamental use of life insurance has received greater attention over the years. The purpose of this article is to highlight its uses in estate and business planning. |
Family LLC as an Estate Planning Tool |
This article addresses the advantages and disadvantages of using a limited liability company (an "LLC") as an estate-planning tool. |
Protecting Your Estate with a Family LLC |
Creating a Family Limited Partnership is an attractive estate planning strategy for transferring assets to your family while maintaining control. |
The Family Limited Partnership in a Post- Strangi World |
The foundation to many estate plans is a revocable living trust. If designed correctly, revocable living trusts can protect up to $3 million (based on the 2004 applicable exclusion amounts of $1.5 million). For estates greater than the applicable exclusion amount, a family limited partnership (FLP) has been a tool for many estate planning attorneys to remove assets from the taxable estate while still offering some control to the taxpayer. |
Transferring A Family Business |
This case represents a conflict typical to family-owned businesses in which no — or poor — planning occurred prior to the father’s death. |
Protecting an IRA/ Plan with a QTIP Trust |
This paper discusses the proper beneficiary designation of a client’s IRA or qualified Plan. Often, the estate planning objective of qualifying for the marital deduction conflicts with the income tax objective of deferral, which in turn, conflicts with the distribution objective of control over the proceeds. |
| Which Marital Deduction Formula Do You Use? |
The choice of marital deduction clauses is important. It affects the amount passing to the surviving spouse (and therefore, the additional estate tax due upon the surviving spouse's death); whether income tax will be triggered upon funding the marital and credit shelter bequests and the ease of administration. |
| Tax Trap for Non-Us Citizens |
A common estate planning technique would provide that upon the death of the first spouse (assume Husband - a U.S. citizen), all of the assets would be transferred outright to the surviving spouse (assume wife - a non-U.S. citizen). Upon the death of the wife, the assets would pass equally to the children. |
Standard Tax Clause in Your WIll Can Provide Unintended Results |
Most wills contain a provision designed to designate the burden of death taxes. Is your tax clause fair? |
Why Establish a Private Foundation |
You are conducting an estate planning meeting. The client's estate exceeds $2,500,000, which includes a tax qualified plan or IRA rollover of $500,000. The clients currently contribute to charity and want to continue their charitable giving after death. Consider a private foundation. |
Leverage Your Charitable Contributions - Use Life Insurance |
In your estate planning meeting, you ask your client about his charitable desires. He tells you about his annual contributions. The client expresses a strong desire to make a more significant contribution to his favorite charity and to perpetuate his family’s name. Consider a life insurance policy. |
Charitable Giving Opportunties |
This article addresses the many benefits that charitable giving provides — from income and estate tax savings to fulfilling personal and charitable goals. |
Use of Charitable Remainder Trusts |
Charitable Remainder Trusts ("CRT") have become a popular method of giving assets to a charity while at the same time providing for your client's family. |
Work VISAS under NAFTA |
On December 8, 1993, Congress signed the North American Free Trade Agreement ("NAFTA") that became effective January 1, 1994. In addition to the provisions relating to trade between the United States and Mexico, and the United States and Canada, Chapter 16 of the Agreement added immigration provisions that provide for almost immediate crossborder travel into the United States for Canadian and many Mexican business persons. |
| Your VISA Has Expired |
No, this does not express the woes of the spendthrift who has run up excessive charges on a credit card. That solution would be simple — switch to MasterCard or American Express for additional credit. |
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