Forgetting Your Beneficiary Forms May Defeat Your Estate PlanThe failure to correctly complete the forms that designate the beneficiaries of your life insurance policies and retirement plan accounts may undermine your entire estate plan. Here are a few tips on doing it right.Never name your estate as the beneficiary or
As of this writing, we are in a period of uncertainty regarding the future of the federal estate tax. Although the House of Representatives has repeatedly voted to end the tax, the Senate has repeatedly voted to continue the tax. Many individuals have their own ideas about what will happen,
Although it does happen, it is a rare event when I suggest that a client not sign a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA), a document that creates a legal, enforceable relationship between the person who signs it (known as the "principal") and the person who acts for the principal (known
Insurance on your life will be included in your taxable estate if either (1) Your estate is the beneficiary of the insurance proceeds, or (2) You possessed certain "incidents of ownership" in the policy within three years of your death. Incidents of ownership that will cause the proceeds to be taxed
Planned Giving Techniques Supporting your house of worship or favorite charity (exempt entity) through gifts is a great way to reduce income and death taxes. Gifts may include cash and cash equivalents, securities, insurance policies, retirement plan assets, personal property and real property. Subject to rather liberal restrictions, you may
The primary purpose of Wills and Trusts created in your Will, but not funded until after your death, is protecting your beneficiaries from themselves and creditors. Trusts created in your Will are called Testamentary Trusts. A By-Pass Trust is a great way to reduce estate taxes but it can also
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