Since the recent tax code overhaul, some of you may be confused about whether acquiring art or real estate would be a better investment for your estate and financial planning purposes. Congress kept the 1031 exchanges that allow real estate to be sold tax-free if the proceeds go to buy more property. That same advantage… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Tax Planning
What Does a Trump Presidency Mean for You?
The votes are in. Donald Trump is the President Elect. WealthManagement.com has published a great analysis piece on what the future of estate planning could look like under a Trump administration, and we believe the highlights are worthy of your attention. When Trump campaigned, he proposed the following tax reforms: • Eliminating the federal estate… Read More »
Don’t Bet the House on Tax Reform
If you or your clients are waiting for meaningful tax reform measures to be signed into law this year, don’t hold your breath. The prospects are, in a word, dim. This isn’t 1986, when President Reagan and House Speaker Tip O’Neill got together to overhaul the tax system. The chasm that divides the political sides… Read More »
Three Ways the DOMA Ruling Can Affect Financial Planning for Clients
The June 26 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act by a 5-4 vote not only gave same-sex couples legal recognition at the federal level, it leveled the playing field financially, too. With this decision, married gay couples living in states that recognize same-sex marriage are eligible for over 1,000… Read More »
New Tax Laws Explained
When Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed into law the American Taxpayer Relief Act in the first week of January — averting the so-called fiscal cliff — it made permanent the previous two years’ exclusions on estate and gift taxes. And those exclusions have been adjusted for inflation. As reported by Bloomberg, this means… Read More »
Deadline Looming on Gift-Tax Rules
Time is running out for your wealthy clients to take advantage of the generous 2010 tax laws that lowered gift tax exemption amounts and tax rates. Currently, lifetime gift-tax exemptions are at $5 million per individual and $10 million for married couples — but those limits are set to dwindle dramatically to $1 million for… Read More »
Now or Never to Take Advantage of Gift-Tax Exemption Limits
At the end of the year, the federal gift-tax exemption will fall from $5.12 million to $1 million, making this the perfect time for advisors to remind clients that now is the time to take advantage of the higher limits and avoid future estate taxes for beneficiaries. The Wall Street Journal (http://tinyurl.com/cy3xval) recently listed several… Read More »
Tax Scams the IRS Wants You to Avoid—For Their Benefit and Your Own
The IRS recently released its “Dirty Dozen Tax Scams”, and some of the items on the list will be of particular interest to anyone concerned about asset protection. According to this article in NASDAQ.com, taxpayers should “exercise caution during tax season to protect themselves against a wide range of schemes ranging from identity theft to… Read More »
Donor-Advised Funds Make a Splash in Political and Private Circles
Mitt Romney has recently gotten a lot of press about the extent of his charitable giving—and the recipients of that giving. While his donations have been both praised and panned depending on the source, the fact is that whatever you think of Romney’s politics, there is a lot to be learned from how he and… Read More »
What is a Domestic Asset Protection Trust and is it right for you?
Any reader of my blog knows that there are a number of different ways to protect your assets and your family. Which option you choose will depend greatly on a number of different factors, including: The size and nature of your assets, your goals for your wealth, your family dynamic, whether or not you own… Read More »