The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act still has that new car smell, and it’s providing us with a unique opportunity to help self-employed clients and small business owners reduce their tax burdens. For entrepreneurs, one of the most exciting aspects of the new law is a 20 percent deduction for qualified business income from “pass… Read More »
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Partridge Family Star Disinherits Daughter
Pop music icon and ’70s television star David Cassidy passed away in November of organ failure at the age of 67. In his will , the late Partridge Family star left $150,000 in assets to his son, Beau, and his music memorabilia was left to his three half siblings, according to The Blast. What’s shocking… Read More »
There’s a Good Chance You Were Affected by the Equifax Data Breach
The data breach of Equifax, one of the big three major credit reporting agencies, has exposed the sensitive, personal information of 143 million Americans, according to news reports. The breach lasted from mid-May through July, 2017 according to Equifax. Hackers gained access to people’s names, social security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and, in some cases,… Read More »
Valuation Discounts Appear to Be Sticking Around
Recent developments on Capitol Hill appear to show that valuation discounts for family-owned businesses are not going away anytime soon. In April, President Donald Trump issued an executive order requiring the U.S. Treasury to identify within 60 days any regulations that impose an undue financial burden on taxpayers, add undue complexity to federal tax laws,… Read More »
Multi-Billion Tortilla Fortune Secure, but Was 2nd ‘Wife’ Treated Fairly?
Many of our clients marry, divorce, remarry, etc. You depend on us as advisors to help protect your assets for the benefit of loved ones. Sometimes, it’s helpful to tell you a story about what could go wrong if you don’t update your plans when you make major life or relationship changes. There’s the old… Read More »
The Nevada Supreme Court Emphatically Upholds No Exception Creditor Provisions
Nevada is the only top-tier Domestic Asset Protection Trust (DAPT) jurisdiction that has no statutory exception creditors that enables creditors to pierce trusts. Some critics have opined that Nevada DAPT laws are too protective and therefore will not work as represented. However, in May the Supreme Court of the State of Nevada ruled in a… Read More »
Should Jointly Held Assets Go Into a Trust?
We’re often asked by new clients whether they should put jointly held property into a revocable trust (a.k.a. living trust). The answer is often yes. However, what ends up going into that trust depends on the structure by which the assets are held jointly by the client, as well as the structure of the trust… Read More »
Do Trustees Have a Duty to Decant?
The irrevocable trust is a powerful protection tool. If written properly by an experienced estate planning attorney, it can secure your wealth and property for intended loved ones for generations to come. But you can’t anticipate everything – including whether an heir will divorce and possibly expose a large portion of trust assets to an… Read More »
Consider a GRAT to Reduce Risk of Gift Taxes
One of the most powerful estate and gift tax strategies you can employ is temporarily freezing the value of an asset that will be worth more later with a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT). When stocks and real estate are at a low, this can be a powerful tool, assuming you (the grantor) believe the… Read More »
Should You Name a Trust Protector in Your Estate Plan?
The concept of a Trust Protector was typically found only in domestic and offshore asset protection trusts. However, since trusts are becoming more common as the “go to” estate planning tool, the Trust Protector concept is making its way into even the least complex of estate plans. Trusts provide control, privacy, and protection. Throw in… Read More »