The President’s bout with COVID-19 demonstrates the importance of keeping planning current. A Health Care Power of Attorney appoints someone to make decisions for you if you’re not able to do so for yourself. An Advance Directive expresses your wishes regarding end-of-life decisions. by Steve Hartnett President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump announced they tested positive for COVID-19. Around the same time, numerous others at the White House also tested positive. In the United … [Read more...] about Staying Current is Especially Important in the Pandemic
Estate Planning
Use the Exclusion or Lose It
Currently, each person can give $11.58 million during life or at death. However, that amount will be cut in half by January 1, 2026. It may go down even sooner. Read on to learn why and how you should use it before you lose it. by Steve Hartnett In 2020, each person can give away $11.58 million during life. Whatever portion they haven’t used during life, they can use it at death. However, that generous exclusion will be cut in half at the end of 2025. Beginning in 2026, the … [Read more...] about Use the Exclusion or Lose It
Will Your Estate Plan Still Work If You Move?
Before the pandemic, Americans were more mobile than ever. When you move, you have to change your address, your voter registration, and all sorts of other things. But, do you need to revise your estate planning documents? Like with many things in law, it depends on your situation. by Steve Hartnett In the prior decade, millions of Americans moved each year. Here’s a link for more information on moving in America. Often, people wonder, “What happens to my estate plan if I move?” … [Read more...] about Will Your Estate Plan Still Work If You Move?
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. by Steve Hartnett Young nurse is taking elder man’s blood As Americans grow older, more and more of us need help with our daily activities. It could be a little help or a lot of help, depending on the situation. Of course, the level of assistance we need … [Read more...] about How Will You Obtain the Care You Need?
Removing Life Insurance Without Triggering the Transfer for Value Rule
Life insurance is included in the taxable estate typically. A trust is a great way to remove the value of life insurance from the taxable estate. But there are two potential traps in this. The prior article examined the first trap, the three-year lookback of Section 2035. This article will examine how the Transfer for Value rule can make life insurance taxable. Read on to learn more about how to avoid the income taxation of life insurance. by Steve Hartnett This is the second in a … [Read more...] about Removing Life Insurance Without Triggering the Transfer for Value Rule
Removing Life Insurance from the Taxable Estate
Life insurance is included in the taxable estate typically. A trust is a great way to remove the value of life insurance from the estate. But, there are two potential traps in this. by Steve Hartnett This is the first in a two-part series of articles regarding life insurance and removing it from the taxable estate. This first article examines why life insurance is in the taxable estate and how to remove it. The second article will examine the application of the “Transfer for Value” … [Read more...] about Removing Life Insurance from the Taxable Estate
Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky – Part 3
Leaving assets to your adult children or other beneficiaries may seem simple. But in many situations, it can be quite tricky. For example, if you have a beneficiary with special needs, you must take special care. July 28, 2020 by Steve Hartnett 0 Comments Maybe you grew up without much. You worked hard. You earned a good education. You succeeded in life even though the streets weren’t paved with gold where you grew up. In fact, maybe you grew up in a very impoverished, oppressed … [Read more...] about Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky – Part 3
IRAs and Your Inheritance Plan
An individual retirement account can help you enjoy your golden years to the fullest. That said, if you experience a certain level of financial success, you may never need the money in the account. Under these circumstances, your IRA would become part of your estate plan. Let’s look at the details, including some changes that have been recently implemented. Traditional vs. Roth Individual Retirement Accounts The two types of individual retirement accounts that are most commonly utilized are … [Read more...] about IRAs and Your Inheritance Plan
Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky – Part 2
Leaving assets to your adult children or other beneficiaries may seem simple. But in many situations, it can be quite tricky. July 21, 2020 by Steve Hartnett Maybe you grew up without much. You worked hard. You earned a good education. You succeeded in life even though the streets weren’t paved with gold where you grew up. In fact, maybe you grew up in a very impoverished, oppressed community. Now you (and your spouse if you’re married) have accumulated enough so you’re … [Read more...] about Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky – Part 2
Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky
Leaving assets to your adult children or other beneficiaries may seem simple. But in many situations, it can be quite tricky. July 14, 2020 by Steve Hartnett Maybe you grew up without much. You worked hard. You earned a good education. You succeeded in life even though the streets weren’t paved with gold where you grew up. Maybe you even grew up in a very impoverished, oppressed community. Now you (and your spouse if you’re married) have accumulated enough so you’re comfortable. … [Read more...] about Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky
