Estate Planning
Trained as a lawyer and CPA, Bob Carlson shares his original estate planning research on the pages of Retirement Watch.
Found 263 Articles.
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6 Gifting Tips for Your Estate Plan
Fact: people make mistakes in their gift giving. It’s not surprising. The rules on estate planning gifts are tricky. By learning the tricks, though, you can increase the after-tax wealth available to you and your loved ones. Reducing federal estate taxes no longer is the main motivation most of us have for making gifts, because […]
Retirement Strategy: How to Transfer Real Estate to Family
Some assets require special estate planning. One such asset is what I sometimes call heirloom real estate, or family real estate. This is a property that’s been in the family for a while and that you’d like to continue in family ownership. Heirloom real estate includes vacation homes or other second homes, farms, a longtime […]
How to Create an Estate Planning Strategy in 8 Steps
Last week, we began our 8-point estate planning checklist, including how to handle your will, and avoiding probate. Today we’ll complete the checklist, starting with… Powers of attorney. You need these documents before you have a will, because you’re likely to become disabled or need help managing affairs before you pass away. There are two […]
Should You Put Your Estate Planning Strategy On Hold? (8-Point Checklist)
Tax reform proposals are slowly being developed in Congress, including changes in the estate tax. People are asking, “Should I delay my estate planning until the new law is clear?” We’ve been down this road before, and the answer is: You shouldn’t delay. Congress is looking at changing only the federal estate and gift taxes, […]
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Nuts & Bolts of Estate Planning
Most discussions of estate planning, including in this newsletter, focus on discrete topics and strategies. Once in a while, especially early in the year, it is good idea to step back and look at the broader picture. There are concepts and strategies common to every estate plan and estate owner. Use these concepts and strategies […]
Estate Tax Tricks, Traps for Married Couples
Too many married couples are making a big mistake. They believe current estate tax law exempts them from having to plan or consider estate taxes in their plans. That misunderstanding could lead to problems. While the estate tax law enacted in early 2013 has many benefits, you need to know how to maximize them. Two […]
How to Build the Complete Estate Plan
Many people think they have estate plans but really don’t. I’m not talking about the many people who haven’t done any planning and don’t have even a basic will. I’m talking about people who have taken action on their estate plans and yet have plans that are woefully incomplete. There is more to a complete […]
Estate Plan Building Blocks
Many people have procrastinated about estate planning. They delayed making or updating plans because of uncertainty over the tax law or turmoil in asset values. People naturally procrastinate because estate planning is complicated and full of unfamiliar terms and concepts. Most of you will have or at least consider the same basic tools and strategies […]