With increasing interest rates, the Treasury Department's recent publication of long-awaited proposed regulations will change the life-expectancy factors used in life expectancy-based estate planning. While the changes may not seem drastic, they should be considered by individuals contemplating its use. For most types of planning, when increased interest rates are favorable to the taxpayer, increased life expectancy is unfavorable to the taxpayer.
Trust and Estate Planning
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In preparing for the birth of his daughter, David Slover developed a to-do list each parent should think about executing. Topics shared include Last Will and Testament, Financial and Healthcare Powers of Attorney, Living Will, Life Insurance Policies and Retirement Accounts.
Selecting the right trustee is one of the most important decisions a grantor will make. The role of trustee has evolved significantly over the 21st century, and today’s trustee needs to recognize that a trust is rooted in a human relationship, not just a legal one. When selecting your trustee, look for the 7 traits to help you select the right one for you.
For families with significant wealth, a new IRS Revenue Procedure could result in millions of dollars in tax savings. The procedure makes the Deceased Spouse Unused Exclusion available up to five years after the death of the first spouse of a married couple.
Unlike trustees, who have very specific fiduciary duties spelled out for them in our trust laws, beneficiaries don’t have much guidance to help them in the role of beneficiary. Our answers to these frequently asked questions should help provide guidance on how to be a good beneficiary and your rights as a beneficiary under Michigan law.
Establishing residency in a state with lower tax rates can result in significant tax savings for some individuals and trusts. But changing residency is not as straightforward as it might seem. Additionally, states have become aggressive in challenging residency changes to avoid losing out on tax revenue. This paper reviews the residency rules for individuals, identifies steps to establish new residency, and addresses residency audits. It also provides an overview of the residency rules for trusts.
The New Inflation Reduction Act (the "IRA") was passed with a simple majority vote in the U.S. The IRA would raise approximately $450 billion to pay for deficit reduction, clean energy, and climate investments.
Many parents enjoy witnessing the positive effect a significant gift can have on their children's lives. For example, asset transfer can help children buy a home, raise a family, or start a business. With meaningful benefits to transferring assets during a lifetime from a gift and estate tax perspective, intergenerational planning can be a win-win for those giving and those receiving. Your family's unique goals will determine which annual exclusion gifts strategy is best for you.
To develop an effective succession plan for your personal collections and tangible assets—including art, fine jewelry, wine, and antiques—you must understand their monetary value. In this ten minute interview, Natalie Annis and Brian Lucareli discuss estate planning for personal collections and the additional tax considerations that apply to the transfer of tangibles, whether during one's lifetime or at death.
On September 29, 2022, the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued its Final Rule implementing the beneficial ownership information reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act legislation. The Final Rule brings about significant revisions to the U.S. anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism compliance framework, implementing sweeping beneficial ownership disclosure requirements applicable to all U.S.