For Clients, Community and Advisors.  Every day, we assist our clients in transferring assets to their trusts to ensure that the goals and objectives of their estate plans are accomplished.  Once the assets are transferred, we endeavor to verify  that the assets are correctly titled.  I would venture to say that every year, we deal… Read More »

For Clients, Advisors and Community.  There was recent news that Facebook users could register as organ donors.  This development gave great publicity to the fact that 70% of individuals would accept a donated organ if needed but only 30% are registered to be organ donors.  The result has been a well publicized shortage of needed… Read More »

For Clients, Community and Advisers.  I am often asked about the mechanics of implementing a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) Order.  Many elder or infirm clients do not want to spend their last months dragged through extraordinary medical procedures.  Rather, they choose to have a natural death without having the medical establishment bring out the paddles… Read More »

For Professional Advisors: If your clients are shopping for long-term care insurance, they should expect higher costs and a tougher approval process. That’s the message in a recent Wall Street Journal article (http://tinyurl.com/873zaco) about the decision by an increasing number of insurers to stop selling such policies. Most recently, Prudential Financial announced plans to stop… Read More »

For Clients, Community, Advisers.  President Obama’s 2013 budget gives us some insight concerning what might happen if he is reelected and his 2013 budget (or any of its broad concepts) are adopted. LIFETIME EXCLUSION FROM ESTATE TAX:  The law would essentially revert to that which was in place in 2009.  That is, the current Republican… Read More »

For Clients, Advisors and Community A recent Wall Street Journal article states that women owned businesses struggle when revenues get to the level of $250,000-$499,999. It also cites a 2011 study conclusing that the proportion of woman owned businesses with revenues of $1 million and more is about the same as it was in 1998. … Read More »

For Clients, Advisors and Community In my 32 years of practice, I have watched my clients age, enjoying long years with their children and grandchildren. In our senior care (elder law) practice, I am increasingly counselling my clients about long term care issues including, the transition from independent living to getting assistance whether it be… Read More »

Are Living Trusts Created Just For Tax Benefits? For Professional Advisors.  Lawyers and advisors around the country are getting some push back from their clients when they recommend Revocable Living Trusts (RLT). The issue seems to be that their clients perceive RLTs to only be good as tax planning tools. With the federal estate tax… Read More »

In recent years, have you made a gift of real estate to your children or grandchildren or, for that matter, anyone? If you have, you need to read this article. The Law.  Transfer of real estate (or anything of value) from one person (donor) to another (donee) for less than fair market value is considered… Read More »

For Clients, Advisors and Community.  In March and May, 2011, I wrote blog articles about the asset protection aspects of inherited IRAs. This article describes current developments involving tax aspects of inherited IRAs. What is so important about inherited IRAs? With careful planning, the beneficiary of an inherited IRA (typically a child) has the opportunity… Read More »