Insight on Estate Planning - February/March 2017

Here’s a brief glance at what you’ll find in the February/March issue…

Stretch out estate tax on business interests

Frequently, heirs of successful entrepreneurs are forced to sell off business interests at “fire sale” prices to help pay federal estate taxes. To alleviate the tax strain, Internal Revenue Code Section 6166 allows heirs to stretch out estate tax payments over time. This article explains the ins and outs of Sec. 6166. A sidebar explains how a life insurance policy can help ease the tax bite.

Maintaining family harmony

Balance beneficiaries’ needs with a total return unitrust

A traditional trust can sometimes create a conflict among the lifetime and remainder beneficiaries. This makes it more difficult for an estate plan to achieve its objectives and places the trustee in a difficult position. The article explains how a total return unitrust can act as a solution.

Is a donor-advised fund right for you?

Those who make sizable gifts to charitable causes can realize personal rewards from their generosity and claim a deduction on their tax returns. One drawback is that, once the money or assets are contributed, they generally have no further say on how the funds are used. This article details why a donor-advised fund may be a solution.

Estate Planning Pitfall

You’ve videotaped your will

Technology enables a deceased person to express wishes to his or her assembled family from beyond the grave, but states generally require wills to be physical documents that are written, signed and properly witnessed during a person’s lifetime. By itself, a videotape isn’t a legally valid substitute for a will. This brief article explains how a videotaped will fits into an estate plan.

CLICK HERE to view a PDF of the newsletter with full articles.