The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed at the end of 2017, significantly alters many of the deductions to which we have become accustomed. CPA’s and financial planners continue to unravel the new laws but one of the new changes is clear. The new tax law will reduce the tax benefit of charitable giving for many individuals. However, the changes…
In this episode of “Absolute Trust Talk,” Kirsten talks to Maureen Richardson, Certified Financial Planner and sole practitioner at Richardson Elite Financial Strategies. Richardson is also Amazon bestselling author of “‘Til Money Do Us Part: Financial Planning for Couples.” The topic of conversation is, of course, financial planning, but not just any financial planning, the focus here is on couples.…
Sally Janes could not wait to retire.
She and her husband, Ben, had been saving for retirement since their children had completed their college degrees. They decided the “magic number” was age 65, when they would qualify for 90 percent of their Social Security benefits. Combined with their respective retirement plans and savings account, the money from Social Security would permit them to live in comfort for the rest of their lives.
I do a lot of presentations before groups and one of the most common questions I am asked is “How often do I need to update my estate plan?” As with just about any question asked of an attorney, the answer is, “It depends.” It depends on both changes in the law, both federal and state, and it depends on…
A Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) is an estate-planning tool that allows individuals to retain the right to live in their home for a specified period of time while also providing for the eventual transfer of a home at a lower transfer tax rate. A grantor using the QPRT transfers title to a personal residence to the trust (either a…
No one likes to think of this subject but the reality is that anyone at any age can be struck down by injury or illness. Two of the fastest rising maladies in the United States are dementia and stroke. Incapacity may be either temporary or permanent. The issue then is who will step into a person’s shoes and manage their…
Documents to Review After Divorce or in Anticipation of Divorce Going through a divorce can be emotional and overwhelming. However, if you are recently divorced or are considering a divorce, do not forget to review your estate plan to determine if you need to make changes to ensure your estate is protected from an ex-spouse and the plan reflects your…