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Estate Planning

Widows, Widowers Have an Easier Time Electing Portability of Deceased Spouses’ Unused Estate Tax Exemptions By Scott Montgomery, CLU, ChFC

Posted March 26, 2025

Widows and widowers who missed the deadline to claim a deceased spouse’s unused estate and lifetime gift tax exemptions as their own have up to five years to make this portability election and shield more of their wealth from future tax liabilities. Understanding Portability U.S. tax laws provide individuals with a federal lifetime gift and […]

4 Strategies to Apply During Life to Reduce Estate Taxes After Death By Eric P. Zeitlin

Posted March 18, 2025

Ultra-high-net-worth individuals with estates valued above the $13.99 million estate-tax lifetime-exclusion amount in 2025 (or $27.98 million for married couples filing joint tax returns) have several opportunities to reduce their estate tax liabilities at death while preserving wealth for future generations while they are alive. Give Multiple Gifts During Life. Making annual exclusion gifts enables […]

Special Needs Trusts Can Help Improve a Disabled Family Member’s Quality of Life by Lee F. Hediger

Lee F. Hediger PWA Director and Miami Financial Advisor Registered Representative of PWA Securities, LLC
Posted March 7, 2025

Caring for a family member with a physical, intellectual or emotional disability can be costly. Everyday expenses can include food and shelter, specialized medications, assistive devices, special education, transportation, at-home nursing care, and much more. Over time, these expenses will almost certainly increase. Families must engage in advanced planning to ensure that a loved one […]

7 Smart Money Moves to Maximize Year-End Bonuses by Kathleen Marteney, CRPC

Posted March 5, 2025

If you received a year-end bonus, congratulations! As gratifying as it may be to splurge on something you can enjoy immediately, you may want to take a few moments to consider how you can maximize those dollars for the long term. Following are seven smart money moves to help you use a windfall of money […]

Trusts Still Have time to Reduce their Taxes for 2024 By Scott Montgomery, CLU, ChFC

Posted February 12, 2025

With 2025 well underway, certain calendar-year trusts and estates still have a small window of opportunity to reduce their 2024 income tax liabilities and those of the trusts’ beneficiaries provided they act before March 6, 2025. Under a special IRS rule, trustees have 65 days after the start of a new year to distribute trust […]

What is Asset Diversification and Why is it Important? by Olga Ismail, AIF®

Posted February 4, 2025

Asset diversification is an investment strategy designed to help investors minimize exposure to market volatility while attempting to maximize opportunities for high returns over the long term. While diversifying assets does not guarantee any investment objective will be met, spreading out investable dollars over a diverse mix of stocks, bonds, cash and other assets could […]

A Fair Inheritance is in the Eye of the Beholder By Lee F. Hediger

Posted January 22, 2025

Leaving behind a lasting legacy and providing for surviving family members in the event of an individual’s death or disability takes time, patience and consideration of a broad range of non-financial issues. While there are times when an unequal division of property among heirs is preferable, consideration should be given how surviving family members will […]

Avoid the Problems that Can Come with Cosigning Loans by Kathleen Marteney, CRPC

Posted January 2, 2025

Cosigning loans for friends or family members can spell financial disaster and ruin otherwise healthy relationships. While it is not unusual for parents to cosign for a child’s student loans, car loans or even a mortgage, doing so can damage parents’ credit scores and leave them liable for paying off the entire debt plus interest.  […]

Now is the Time to Review Estate Planning Documents by By Kathleen Marteney, CRPC®

Posted December 12, 2024

One of the many things individuals learned from the pandemic is that the unexpected can happen, and the best way to be prepared is to have a plan in place that meets your evolving circumstances. It is wise to proactively take stock of your physical and financial health throughout various stages of life and consider […]

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