With most tax planning, there are certain strategies that are generally effective and shouldn’t be ignored. The same holds true for estate planning. Here are three essential estate planning strategies to consider that may help you achieve your goals. 1. Use an ILIT to hold life insurance Do you own an insurance policy on your […]
Category: Assets
Getting A Divorce? Be Aware Of Tax Implications If You Own A Business
If you’re a business owner and you’re getting a divorce, tax issues can complicate matters. Your business ownership interest is one of your biggest personal assets and in many cases, your marital property will include all or part of it. Tax-free property transfers You can generally divide most assets, including cash and business ownership interests, […]
ABLE Accounts May Help Disabled Or Blind Family Members
There may be a tax-advantaged way for people to save for the needs of family members with disabilities — without having them lose eligibility for government benefits to which they’re entitled. It can be done though an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account, which is a tax-free account that can be used for disability-related […]
A Family Bank Professionalizes Intrafamily Lending
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic turndown in some areas, you may have family members in need of financial support. If you’re interested in lending money to loved ones in need, consider establishing a “family bank.” These entities enhance the benefits of intrafamily loans, while minimizing unintended consequences. Intrafamily loans Lending can […]
Is An LLC The Right Choice For Your Small Business?
Perhaps you operate your small business as a sole proprietorship and want to form a limited liability company (LLC) to protect your assets. Or maybe you are launching a new business and want to know your options for setting it up. Here are the basics of operating as an LLC and why it might be […]
Financial Statements: Take The Time To Read The Entire Story
A complete set of financial statements for your business contains three reports. Each serves a different purpose, but ultimately helps stakeholders — including managers, employees, investors and lenders — evaluate a company’s performance. Here’s an overview of each report and a critical question it answers. 1. Income statement: Is the company growing and profitable? The […]
Keep Family Matters Out Of The Public Eye By Avoiding Probate
Although probate can be time consuming and expensive, one of its biggest downsides is that it’s public — anyone who’s interested can find out what assets you owned and how they’re being distributed after your death. The public nature of probate may also draw unwanted attention from disgruntled family members who may challenge the disposition […]
There’s Currently A “Stepped-Up Basis” If You Inherit Property — But Will It Last?
If you’re planning your estate, or you’ve recently inherited assets, you may be unsure of the “cost” (or “basis”) for tax purposes. The current rules Under the current fair market value basis rules (also known as the “step-up and step-down” rules), an heir receives a basis in inherited property equal to its date-of-death value. So, […]
Can Taxpayers Who Manage Their Own Investment Portfolios Deduct Related Expenses? It Depends
Do you have significant investment-related expenses, including the cost of subscriptions to financial services, home office expenses and clerical costs? Under current tax law, these expenses aren’t deductible through 2025 if they’re considered investment expenses for the production of income. But they’re deductible if they’re considered trade or business expenses. For years before 2018, production-of-income […]
Does Your Estate Plan Address Your Grandchildren In A Fair Manner?
Many people, when planning their estates, simply divide their assets equally among their children. But “equal” may not necessarily mean “fair.” It all depends on your family’s circumstances. Specifically, providing for grandchildren is one area where equal treatment may inadvertently result in unfairness. Consider this scenario Bob has two adult children, Ted and Carol. Ted […]