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Trusts

Found 106 Articles.
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Adding Flexibility with a Disclaimer Trust

January 1, 2010

It’s tough to keep your estate plan in tune with the rapid pace of change. The estate tax changes. Your family situation and the value of your assets also change. Any of those factors can trigger a need to change your will or other elements of your estate plan, and the pace of change seems […]

estate planning

Choosing the Right Estate Planning Options: The Marital Deduction, Trusts, and Estate Tax

The foundation of every family estate plan is formed from the same tools and strategies. No matter the size of your estate and how simple or complex it is, you’ll begin by choosing from this basic menu. You don’t want a cookie-cutter estate plan. There are variations of these tools, and many plans need additional […]

Everything You Need To Know About Trust Estate Planning

Trusts are fairly simple. Lawyers and estate planners make them seem more complicated than they are. That’s too bad, because nonlawyers need to understand the different Types of Trusts and how they work to ensure they have effective estate plans. Trusts used to be for only the very wealthy or for special situations. But now […]

Estate Planning

Estate Plan Building Blocks: Estate Tax, The Marital Deduction and Trusts

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 […]

how-the-turmoil-can-alter-trusts

How the Turmoil Can Alter Trusts

The financial crisis is causing major changes in the banking business, and that will lead to changes at trust companies and in trustees. Trust creators and beneficiaries need to at least monitor the situation and might need to take action. Many trusts have a corporate trustee or co-trustee, such as a bank or trust company. […]

estate plan

Unitrusts and Your Estate Plan

Once upon a time all trusts were annuity trusts or income trusts. As the economy and markets changed, these trusts failed to meet their creators’ goals and often caused problems. To solve the problems, the unitrust was created. Like all financial planning solutions, the unitrust is good but not the tool for all situations. Estate […]

trustee-strategies-for-the-21st-century

Trustee Strategies for the 21st Century

Trusts are part of more and more estate plans. Often trusts are used to hold and manage assets for younger generations. Sometimes the beneficiaries are too young or inexperienced to manage the assets. Other times the older generation is afraid the younger generation might not resist the temptation to spend direct gifts of the property. […]

housing-slump-helps-estate-planning

Housing Slump Can Help Your Estate Planning – The Qualified Personal Resident Trust

A market drop often creates opportunities in Estate Planning. The ongoing decline in housing prices creates such an opportunity. Estate and gift taxes are imposed on the value of property. It follows that a decline in market value means property can be transferred at a lower cost. Those who own estates worth more than $2 […]

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