Estate Planning

An Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust (IDGT) is a type of grantor trust, which means the grantor pays the income tax earned by the trust. When you hear the term “intentionally defective,” you may think the trust is broken or somehow ineffective. An IDGT is a trust that is “defective” only because it is ignored for income tax purposes. The IDGT is very effective by helping beneficiaries avoid gift and estate taxes.

A dynasty trust is a long-term, irrevocable trust designed to pass on and manage wealth for multiple generations. It allows individuals to transfer assets, such as money, property, investments, or closely-held business interests into a trust for beneficiaries (typically family members) while minimizing estate tax, gift and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes and protecting the assets from creditors and potential squandering.

Passing on your business to the next generation by creating management (how your business will be managed if you are gone) and business succession plans (how your business will be owned) will help you get the most value for your business and hopefully, avoid hurting family and business partners. (Read more...)

Discover when to avoid online estate planning tools and hire an attorney for your estate planning needs. This blog explores 7 key scenarios where hiring an experienced estate planning attorney is advisable, including complex family dynamics, significant assets, estate tax considerations, special needs beneficiaries, out-of-state or international assets, charitable giving, and concerns about will contests.

Of the various charitable planning techniques that people use either before or after an exit, one of the most popular techniques - particularly as interest rates rise - is known as the charitable remainder trust (CRT). In a CRT, you’re giving a portion of your business interest to a trust that ultimately, at the end of the term or your life expectancy, will be paid out to the charity.

Discover the power of Self-Cancelling Installment Notes (SCINs) for family business transfers and estate planning. Learn how SCINs work, their tax benefits, and when to use them. Explore the advantages of SCINs in minimizing gift and estate taxes while transferring property between family members. Understand the impact on your estate and the income tax rules surrounding these financial instruments. Optimize your wealth transfer strategy with expert insights on Self-Cancelling Installment Notes.

A Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) is a tool used by people who want to reduce estate and gift taxes. There are also Rolling GRATs and Zero'd Out GRATs. A GRAT holds high growth assets that are appreciating in value faster than the Section 7520 rate.

An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) is a powerful asset protection tool used in estate planning to help manage and distribute assets efficiently, minimize estate taxes, and provide liquidity to an estate.