Category: Estate Planning

The Build Back Better Act, as initially proposed, made significant changes that affected estate planning for high net-worth individuals. The Act proposed a significant reduction in the basic exclusion amount from $11.7 million to approximately $6 million. It also proposed to eliminate the grantor trust rules that estate planners have been using to reduce taxable estates for decades. If this Act had passed in its original form, it would have significantly reduced opportunities to reduce transfer taxes. However, the Build… Read more ›

  If you’ve reached an age when you really want to start working on your estate plan, one arrangement to consider is a revocable living trust. Perhaps you’ve heard of one, but you’re fuzzy on the details. Here are the basics. You create one while you’re alive and can cancel it at any time. Generally, you’re both the trustee and the beneficiary, so you control the trust’s assets. With a revocable living trust, you distribute assets to yourself while you’re… Read more ›

  Does your estate plan include instructions on how to access your online bank and brokerage accounts? What about your social media accounts and electronically stored photos? And if you own blockchain assets, they could be permanently lost if your professional advisor or beneficiaries don’t have the private key to unlock them. The bottom line: It’s important to include digital assets in your estate plan and keep password lists updated. Laws lag developments The laws in the area of digital… Read more ›

Estate planners often tout the virtues of owning property jointly — and with good reason. Joint ownership generally offers several advantages for surviving family members. But this shouldn’t be viewed as a panacea for every estate planning concern. You must also be aware of all the implications. Title Wording Matters – Joint Ownership in Estate Planning Joint ownership requires interests in property by more than one party. The type of joint ownership depends on the wording of the title to… Read more ›

The IRS has announced its 2021 cost-of-living adjustments to tax amounts that might affect you. Many increased to account for inflation, but some remained at 2020 levels. As you implement 2020 year-end tax planning strategies, be sure to take these 2021 adjustments into account in your planning. Also, keep in mind that, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), annual inflation adjustments are calculated using the chained consumer price index (also known as C-CPI-U). This increases tax bracket thresholds,… Read more ›

Now that Joe Biden has been projected as the winner of the presidential election by major news outlets,* you may wonder if your federal taxes will be affected. President-elect Biden campaigned on a broad agenda, including a pledge to roll back many of President Trump’s tax policies. In response to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), Biden has promised a progressive approach to taxation, focused primarily on increasing the burden on businesses and high-income individuals. Of course, his odds… Read more ›

With its winter recess looming before it, Congress has engaged in a flurry of activity. Most notably, it reached agreement on a massive governmentwide spending package titled the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. The legislation extends certain income tax provisions that had expired, as well as some that were due to expire at the end of 2019. Congress traditionally passes so-called “extenders” annually, but it neglected to do so for 2018. As a result, several popular breaks for both individuals… Read more ›

Some people are under the misconception that Social Security benefits are always free from federal income tax. However, depending on how much income you have from other sources, you may have to report up to 85% of your benefits as income on Form 1040 and pay the resulting federal income tax. If this happens, you’re effectively getting taxed twice on the same dollars: First, you’re taxed during your working years when you have to pay federal income taxes on Social… Read more ›

CBM has developed this post to inform clients and friends of the firm about changes to the estate and gift tax exemption made by the massive Tax Cuts and Jobs Act effective beginning in 2018. It will result in significantly fewer estates being subject to the 40% tax, and larger estates owing less tax. Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the first $5 million (as adjusted for inflation in years after 2011) of transferred property was exempt from estate… Read more ›

It’s common for grandparents to want to help ensure their grandchildren will get a high quality education. And, along the same lines, they also want the peace of mind that their wealth will be preserved for their children and grandchildren after they’re gone. If you’re facing these challenges, one option that can help you conquer both is a 529 plan. And it’s become even more attractive under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). 529 plan in action In a… Read more ›