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You’ve received a sizable inheritance: Now what?
If you’ve received, or will soon receive, a significant inheritance, it may be tempting to view it as “found money” that can be spent freely. But unless your current financial plan ensures that you’ll comfortably reach all your goals, it’s a good idea to have a plan of action for managing your newfound wealth. Take…
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If you’re married, ensure that you and your spouse coordinate your estate plans
Estate planning can be complicated enough if you don’t have a spouse. But things can get more difficult for married couples. Even if you and your spouse have agreed on most major issues in the past — such as child rearing, where to live and other lifestyle choices — you shouldn’t automatically assume that you’ll…
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An estate planning “road map” can act as a catchall for your final thoughts
No matter how much effort you’ve invested in crafting an estate plan, your will, trusts and other official documents may not be enough. Consider also drafting a “road map.” Essentially, it’s an informal letter that guides your family in executing your plan according to your wishes. What to address Among other things, your road map…
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Addressing IP in an estate plan can be tricky
Over your lifetime, you may have accumulated a wide variety of tangible assets, including automobiles, works of art and property, that you’ve accounted for in your estate plan. But intangible assets can easily be overlooked. Consider intellectual property (IP), such as patents and copyrights. These assets can have great value, so, if you have them,…
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A single parent’s estate plan should address specific circumstances
According to the Pew Research Center, nearly a quarter (23%) of U.S. children under the age of 18 live with one parent. This is more than three times the share (7%) of children from around the world who do so. If your household falls into this category, ensure your estate plan properly accounts for your…
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Have you recently reviewed your life insurance needs?
Once upon a time, life insurance played a much larger part in an estate plan than it does now. Why? Families would use life insurance payouts to pay estate taxes. But with the federal gift and estate tax exemption at $12.92 million for 2023, far fewer families currently are affected by estate tax. However, life…
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Enacting a spendthrift trust can be beneficial to your loved ones
Are you concerned that some of your beneficiaries might squander their inheritances or simply aren’t equipped to handle the financial responsibilities that come with large sums of money? You don’t have to hold on to your assets until the day you die with the hope that your heirs will change their ways by that time.…
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Run the numbers before donating appreciated assets to charity
Are you charitably inclined? If so, you probably know that donations of long-term appreciated assets, such as stocks, have an advantage over cash donations. But in some cases, selling appreciated assets and donating the proceeds may be a better strategy. That’s because adjusted gross income (AGI) limitations on charitable deductions are higher for cash donations.…
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A single parent’s estate plan should address specific circumstances
According to the Pew Research Center, nearly a quarter (23%) of U.S. children under the age of 18 live with one parent. This is more than three times the share (7%) of children from around the world who do so. If your household falls into this category, ensure your estate plan properly accounts for your…
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Deciding whether to make lifetime gifts or bequests at death can be a deceptively complex question
One of your primary estate planning goals may be to pass as much of your wealth to your family as possible. That means sheltering your estate from gift and estate taxes. One way to do so is to make gifts during your lifetime. Current tax law may make that an enticing proposition, given the inflation-adjusted…
