Think it is important to do proper estate planning?  Think it is important to update planning documents whenever life situations change?  I do too.  But the bigger question is what do your clients think and have they gone beyond thinking about it to doing it? This link takes you to an interesting article about the…

Go to any estate planning conference, list the topics discussed, and then record the time dedicated to each.  Chances are that most of the time, if not all, will be spent addressing elements of the transfer tax code and strategies for implementing their impact.  The Applicable Exclusion Amount, The Applicable Credit Amount, Annual Exclusion gifts,…

On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. This Act makes numerous changes that affect estate planning, the most notable of which are: An Increase in the Applicable Exclusion Amount and the Generation Skipping Transfer (GST) Tax Exemption to $5,000,000. This makes…

In today’s financial services market, professionals are often asked to wear multiple hats.  That’s great if the hat you are being asked to wear is one that is familiar, but what if you are being asked to address unfamiliar subjects?  What if you are being asked to explore the estate planning needs of your clients,…