Articles

Estates & Trusts

• Estate Planning

  Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.

• Charitable Giving

  To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.

• Gifting Strategies

  Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.

• Charitable Lead Trusts

  Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.

• Charitable Remainder Trusts

  A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.

• Family Limited Partnerships

  One estate planning strategy that families with closely held businesses could consider is the family limited partnership.

• History of the Federal Estate Tax

  Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.

Tax Planning

• Capital Gain Tax

  Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.

• Estate Tax

  Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.

• Gift Tax

  The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.

• Charitable Trust Tax Benefits

  For the grantor, there are a few potential tax benefits that can come with setting up a charitable trust.

• Withdrawing Before Age 59.5

  Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty.

• Tax Deductions

  Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.

• Tax-Free Investments

  It’s important to understand tax-exempt vehicles when establishing a comprehensive tax planning strategy.

• Tax-Free Insurance Upgrades

  A 1035 exchange allows you to exchange your life insurance policy for one from another company without tax liability.

Risk Management

• Why Purchase Life Insurance

  If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.

• Business Owner Policies

  A business owner policy is an insurance package that assembles the basic coverages required by a business owner in one bundle.

• Life Insurance for Business Owners

  Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.

• Split-Dollar Life Insurance

  Split-dollar life insurance is an arrangement to purchase and fund life insurance between two parties.

• Last-Survivor Life Insurance

  Couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes could consider last-survivor life insurance.

• Disability Income Insurance for Business Owners

  As a business owner, a disability can create an economic hardship putting both your personal finances and business at risk.

• Term Life Insurance

  Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.

• Whole Life Insurance

  Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.

• Universal Life Insurance

  Consider a universal life insurance policy if you want the flexibility to change your premium or death benefit.

• Maximizing Your Insurance Benefits

  Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.

• Insuring Your Future

  To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.

• Assessing Disability Income Insurance

  Knowing the basics of a disability income insurance policy is a good first step toward protecting your family.

• Types of Health Coverage

  There are three basic types of medical insurance plans: fee-for-service, managed care, and high-deductible health plan.

• Evaluating Insurance Companies

  Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.

• Long-Term Care Costs

  The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.

• Medicare Coverage

  Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those persons age 65 and over. But what does it cover?