Clear, practical articles to help you better understand estate planning, trusts, and related topics. Our goal is to provide helpful information so you can make informed decisions for yourself and your family.
In the past few weeks, it’s likely that you’ve seen attention-grabbing headlines like these: Wealthy may face up to 61% tax rate on inherited wealth under Biden planBiden’s estate tax changes will wipe out millions of small businesses. With lots of dialogue
Cryptocurrencies have a more prominent role in estate planning than they did a decade ago. Since Bitcoin was introduced 12 years ago, cryptocurrencies have steadily grown in acceptance. A recent survey showed that 10% of people in the United States
Death and Taxes are two certainties in life. When they collide, the results can be disastrous without careful consideration and planning. The good news is that most inheritances are passed on free of tax. However, a misstep could cost you
Prop 19 passed with a very narrow margin in California and is bringing major changes to property tax assessment rules. There are some good things about the changes for a select group of people. However, there are major changes to
Under Prop 19, the parent to child reassessment exclusion no longer applies unless it is a transfer of a primary residence from a parent to a child who uses it in turn as their primary residence. Whereas before there was
Many of us labor a lifetime to build up our assets and fight for causes that matter to us. Few things are more fulfilling than the thought of sharing wealth and legacy with our family.
Of course, it’s impossible to
Amazingly, 6 in 10 U.S. adults don’t have a will or living trust, and almost half of boomers (age 53-71) haven’t put their estate planning documents in place yet. In my experience, I have seen that most people fail to
When you think about the price of having kids, the costs that come to mind may include things like child care, camp, braces and college tuition.What probably doesn’t spring to mind are mortgages, car payments or personal loans.
Many people who inherit wealth or small businesses are at significant risk for essentially squandering the wealth. An Ohio University study shows that an astonishing 33 percent1 of all beneficiaries lose their entire inheritance within two years of receiving it.
If you have already set up your living trust – congratulations! Having a living trust can save your loved ones from having to go through a long, costly and public probate and/or conservatorship court proceeding. A living trust and other
A trust avoids probate, but an empty trust does not. What do I mean by that? You have probably heard me say that a trust is like a bucket and you need to fill it with your assets for it
Here’s an issue many families overlook when children leave for college: That child, in the eyes of the law, is now an adult—and needs some all-important documents.
