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How does a charitable trust help you save on taxes?
If you have accumulated a lot of assets, you may feel like leaving some of it to a charity. But you can give to the needy while also taking advantage of certain tax breaks that giving offers to you. If you want to make sure a charity receives some of your assets when...
Working around the death tax
When your estate has significant assets, then it may be subject to death taxes. These taxes can equal up to 40% of your estate’s value, and your beneficiaries shoulder them once you pass on. You might find this figure concerning, since it could reduce your estate by...
How does the gift tax work?
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires gift-givers to pay taxes on gifts that exceed a certain amount. At this time, the tax does not kick in until the person making the gifts gives away $11.4 million or more. However, those with significant assets need to keep...
Three ways parents can use estate plans to protect their children
The world changes once you become a parent. Instead of taking steps only to protect your own future and the future of your spouse, you now have to take steps to protect your children. With a few steps you can put a plan in place that will better ensure a good...
Trust administration can have its complications
Trusts can act as useful protection for assets, especially ones that need distributing after a person's death. When the time comes to handle those remaining assets, the successor trustee has the responsibility of following instructions involved with administering the...
Going beyond a will is typically wise for estate planning
Creating an estate plan is on many New York residents' to-do lists, but it is often near the bottom or constantly having other tasks placed above it. You may think that you have plenty of time to create your plan or may even think that you already have a plan because...
Recent IRS announcement could impact your estate plan
There are certain life events that should trigger a review of one’s estate plan. A death in the family, the birth of a new family member, a divorce or a marriage are common examples. Another example: tax changes.The tax code has gone through some major changes...
Important factors to consider when choosing an executor
You may have already begun your estate planning journey and have done a deep dive into a self-assessment. You may have had to answer many tough questions so far, but still, you have not completed the entirety of the process. Though you may have many aspects of your...
Does your family know what you want your funeral to be like?
A large part of estate planning is making your wishes known even when you can no longer express them on your own. Whether you prepare for the possibility of incapacitation or for your death, you want to make sure to complete certain tasks in the manner in which you...
Is there such a thing as “too much” inheritance?
A recent publication in The Atlantic estimates over 1.4 million American households hold over $5 million in assets. With such large wealth in the country, many are starting to ask whether there is such a thing as “too much” inheritance. For many wealthy...
