“After a loved one passes, one of the biggest hurdles families face is passing wealth onto the next generation. Unfortunately, family dynamics can spur conflict and infighting among descendants.” More than two-thirds of all advisors surveyed by Key Private Bank said the hardest part of estate planning is navigating family dynamics, according to a 2019 […]

“One of the biggest wealth transfers our nation has ever seen is about to take place. Over the next 25 years, as much as $68 trillion of wealth will be passed to succeeding generations.” Heirs who are prepared to inherit wealth, with families who talk about wealth and have an estate plan, will do better […]

“There’s much to plan for in life—college, your wedding, your first child, life insurance—and with more than enough to keep you busy, it’s easy to forget about your will.” Even during a pandemic, few people want to spend time thinking about death. However, having an estate plan means having some of the most important documents […]

“Many people work hard to acquire real estate and then later find that that real estate makes them ineligible for Medicaid to help pay for nursing home or in-home, long-term care.” The challenges begin when homeowners don’t do any Medicaid planning and decide the best answer is simply to gift their home to their children. […]

“Death and taxes may be certainties of life, but how much tax your family pays upon your death is still within your control to a certain degree.” Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, or “ILITs” are life insurance policies owned by irrevocable trusts used to manage taxes on estates. There are complexities to using an ILIT, but […]

“We currently have the highest estate tax exemption and the lowest intra-family interest rates in history. That combination alone is significant, but when mixed with the potential for lower estate and gift tax exemptions and depressed business valuations, you have a potent catalyst for transitioning ownership.” Anyone with a taxable estate that includes an operating […]

“To ensure a lasting legacy, you need to get your documents in order and have a clear plan for how your wealth will transfer, avoiding taxes and inheritor pitfalls along the way.” Asset distribution is how many estate plans begin, but we can create legacies for generations to come through our estate planning, says Kiplinger […]

“Remember that a will goes through probate, so a husband and wife typically try to avoid it by using joint ownership or beneficiary designations. However, they’re often mistaken by believing the will still controls their estate.” Most people think a will is the most important tool in the estate planning toolbox, but in many instances, […]

“The SECURE Act killed the stretch IRA but instead of mourning, advisors can help clients make up the loss.” It’s sad but true: the SECURE Act took away the long lifetime stretch that so many IRA heirs enjoyed. It was a great efficiency tool for family wealth transfer, but there are ways to fill the […]

“It is surprisingly easy and common to make mistakes when designating beneficiaries on retirement and investment accounts.” A designated beneficiary is the person named on a retirement or investment account to inherit the asset if you die. That’s the simple part. What gets complicated is when people don’t think it’s such a big deal, says […]