Tax / Estate & Wealth Planning
Showing 2161–2176 of 2177 results
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Cash flow control – Design a CRT as a “spigot trust” to manage income stream
March / April 2008
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1045
Abstract: A charitable remainder trust (CRT) is a flexible tool that can facilitate a variety of estate and financial planning strategies. If a person doesn’t need the income from a CRT right away, he or she can design it as a “spigot” trust, which allows the assets to grow tax-deferred until he or she is ready to turn on the income flow, such as at retirement. This article explains the ins and outs of spigot trusts.
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Tax Tips
March / April 2008
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 629
Abstract: News items briefly discussed are Health Savings Accounts, trading life insurance for cash, contractor vs. employee relationships, and the importance of an estate contingency plan.
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529 plans – A college savings strategy that makes the grade
March / April 2008
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 583
Abstract: As the cost of a college education continues to soar, it’s more important than ever to design an investment strategy that prepares your family for this major expense. The 529 plan has now emerged as perhaps the most powerful tool for financing higher education costs. This article focuses on the tax advantages of 529 plans.
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The ins and outs of inherited retirement plans
March / April 2008
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 813
Abstract: Retirement plan withdrawals are generally subject to income tax. So if your estate includes substantial sums in such plans, understanding the tax implications for your beneficiaries can help you plan accordingly. Planning is particularly important if you’ve designated someone other than your spouse as the beneficiary of your 401(k) or similar retirement plan (or you’re the nonspouse beneficiary). The tax code permits nonspouses to stretch plan distributions — and the resulting taxes — out over their own life expectancies through a “nonspousal rollover,” but not all plans offer this option. This article looks at the minimum distribution rules and post-death distributions associated with inheriting a loved one’s retirement plan.
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Don’t get tripped up by travel expense rules
March / April 2008
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1250
Abstract: For many companies and their employees, business travel is a way of life. Although deducting travel expenses may seem like a routine business practice, the rules are complex — and a wrong turn can have significant tax consequences. Many companies reimburse workers or provide advances for their travel expenses. The IRS tends to scrutinize expense reimbursement plans, so it’s a good idea to periodically review an “accountable plan” to ensure it still qualifies as such. This article reviews which travel expenses are deductible and to what extent.
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Estate Planning Pitfall – You didn’t name a guardian for your minor children
February / March 2008
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 340
Abstract: No estate planning decision is more important than choosing a guardian to care for minor children in the event that something happens to their parents. A court will name the guardian if the parents don’t. This short article discusses five tips to consider when selecting the right person to be the guardian of minor children.
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A charitable gift annuity can benefit you and a charity
February / March 2008
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 568
Abstract: There are several estate planning strategies to use to satisfy philanthropic goals while preserving some tax and financial benefits for the individual. One such strategy involves using a charitable gift annuity (CGA). This article examines how a CGA can benefit individuals and charities. (Updated: 4/27/12)
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Don’t let S corporation stock throw you a curve
February / March 2008
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 899
Abstract: The S corporation remains one of the most popular entity choices for closely held businesses. From an estate planning perspective, however, S corporation stock can complicate matters. This article details the pros and cons of four types of trusts that can hold S corporation stock.
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Joint home purchase – A simple strategy offers big estate tax savings
February / March 2008
Newsletter: Insight on Estate Planning
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 998
Abstract: A home is likely a person’s most valuable asset. And one of the most effective strategies for passing the home to his or her children or other loved ones while minimizing gift or estate taxes also is one of the simplest: the joint purchase. This article explains how a joint purchase strategy works.
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Estate Planning Red Flag – Your estate plan benefits your grandchildren or other “skip” persons
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 307
Abstract: The federal generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax is one of the harshest in the tax code: It’s a flat tax (currently 35%) — in addition to gift or estate taxes — on transfers to a “skip person.” This short article explains how to minimize or avoid triggering GST tax. (Updated 4/27/12)
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GRAT expectations – A zeroed-out GRAT can transfer wealth tax-free
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 562
Abstract: A zeroed-out grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT) may be an attractive addition to an estate plan if a person has a large estate and has used up the $1 million lifetime gift tax exemption (or wishes to preserve the exemption for other purposes). This article details how a zeroed-out GRAT works.
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6 postmortem strategies for revitalizing an estate plan
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 920
Abstract: Estate planning is an inexact science. No matter how much time is put into a plan, changing tax laws and personal circumstances can hamper its ability to achieve an estate planner’s objectives. Fortunately, there are postmortem strategies a spouse, executor and beneficiaries can use to reduce estate taxes. This article explores six postmortem estate planning strategies.
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Pondering your policy – Watch out for a little-known tax trap – the transfer-for-value rule
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Estate Planner
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1141
Abstract: Life insurance is an essential building block in an estate plan. But it’s important to handle life insurance policies carefully. Beneficiaries typically are exempt from income taxes on death benefit proceeds. But if a policy is transferred for valuable consideration, the risk of triggering income taxes arises because of a little-known, yet lethal, provision of the Internal Revenue Code called the transfer-for-value rule. This article explains the transfer-for-value rule.
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Tax Tips
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 532
Abstract: News items briefly discussed are the IRS’s random audit program, lodging expenses, out-of-state purchases, and what to do when the IRS or a state taxing authority informs a taxpayer of a discrepancy or mistake in a tax return.
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5 post-year-end tax strategies to reduce your 2007 tax bill
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 561
Abstract: Now that you’ve “closed the books” on the 2007 tax year, you may think you’re finished tax planning for it. But there’s still time for you to implement these five post-year-end strategies that can reduce your 2007 tax bill. This article suggests making an IRA contribution, checking receipts, simplifying your retirement plan, reviewing losses and taking the expensing election.
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Bulletproofing your FLP
January / February 2008
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1208
Abstract: During the last decade, family limited partnerships (FLPs) have come under increasingly intense fire from the IRS. But that doesn’t mean they’ve lost any of their muscle as an estate- and succession-planning tool. What it does mean is that the IRS may attempt to shoot down an FLP it believes is nothing more than a tax-avoidance scheme. This article explores how to create an FLP that’s bulletproof — or at least bullet resistant.