In 2019, the IRS reassured ultra-high-net-worth families that any gifts they make between 2018 and 2025 to remove assets from their taxable estates under the generous but temporary provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) would not lose those tax benefits when the estate-tax lifetime-exclusion reverts to its pre-TCJA level in 2026. The […]
If you purchase a qualifying new or previously owned plug-in or hybrid electric vehicle (EV) or fuel cell electric vehicle (FCV) this year, you may qualify for a tax credit. Generally, the credits are nonrefundable, meaning they can only reduce your tax liability to zero; you cannot get back more on the credit than you […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
A power of attorney is a legal document in which you grant to someone else the authority to oversee your financial affairs and make prudent decisions on your behalf if and when you are unable to do so on your own. Those decisions could be as mundane as paying household bills during a temporary period […]
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 […]
After years of diligent saving, you probably built a significant nest egg to afford a comfortable retirement, but that doesn’t mean you’re ready to put your feet up and coast through your golden years. Preparing for retirement requires having a plan in place to address your spending habits, rising healthcare costs, changing tax laws and […]
The SECURE Act’s elimination of stretch IRAs poses a challenge to many high-net-worth account owners who had hoped to pass their savings to the next generation and allow inheritances to continue growing tax-free over beneficiaries’ lifetimes. Under the law, non-spouse IRA beneficiaries must withdraw the entirety of inherited IRA accounts within 10 years of the […]
Physicians and other healthcare providers recognize the inherent risks of their profession, including legal and financial exposure to claims of medical malpractice. However, this professional liability is merely the tip of the iceberg when considering the legal minefield all professionals must navigate when operating a business, employing staff, owning property and even driving a vehicle. […]