Newsletters

7 Tips for Helping Families with Special Needs This month's issue of The Planner examines the unique planning requirements of families with children, grandchildren or other family members (such as parents) with special needs. There are numerous misconceptions in this area that can result in costly mistakes when planning for special needs beneficiaries. Understanding the pitfalls associated with special needs...

The Continuing Significance of Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation If you work with business owners and their key employees - or you would like to - you need to be conversant about Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) plans. NQDC is often a significant component of key employees' compensation because qualified plans are inadequate to meet the retirement needs of those with above average...

Motivating Clients to Plan Now: Taking Advantage of Low Interest Rates and More With lingering uncertainty as to the economy and the federal estate tax, many clients - and their advisors - are wondering what planning they should do now, if any. No one can predict how quickly we will experience an economic turnaround or whether Congress will act on...

The 2010 Basis "Step-Up" Rules Last month, we examined the (for 2010 only) repeal of the estate tax and suspension of the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) and the resulting need to review existing estate plans to ensure that they continue to meet the client's goals and objectives. This...

Perceived Disadvantages of Irrevocable Trusts in General Americans hold nearly $15 Trillion in IRAS and qualified retirement plans. Qualified retirement plan accounts are asset protected under federal law. IRAs are protected to at least some extent under state law. Many wrongly believe that these accounts will remain asset protected after their owners die. This issue of The Wealth Counselor first...

Charitable Lead Trusts For the right client, the right charitable lead trust (CLT) can provide significant planning opportunities for reducing generation skipping transfer (GST), estate, gift, and/or income taxes. However, the CLT is a woefully underutilized strategy today. This issue of The Wealth Counselor examines CLTS and the planning opportunities they afford, especially in today's low interest rate, depressed asset...