Tax Basis Planning Worth a Look if Estate Taxes Aren’t a Threat

For many people today, income tax planning offers far greater tax-saving opportunities than gift and estate tax planning. A record-high gift and estate tax exemption — currently $5.49 million ($10.98 million for married couples) — means that fewer people are subject to those taxes. If gift and estate taxes aren’t a concern for your family, it can […]Continue reading

5 Ways to Dance Through Digital Disruption

You’ve probably heard the term and wondered whether it could happen to your company. Maybe it already has. We’re referring to “digital disruption” — when new technologies and business models affect the value proposition of existing goods and services. Perhaps the most notorious recent example of this is the rise of ride-sharing companies such as […]Continue reading

Find the Right Path Forward with KPIs

From the baseball field to the boardroom, statistical analysis has changed various industries nationwide. With proper preparation and guidance, business owners can have at their fingertips a wealth of stats-based insight into how their companies are performing — far beyond the bottom line on an income statement. The metrics in question are commonly referred to […]Continue reading

Estate Tax Relief For Family Businesses Is Available … In The Form Of A Deferral

If a substantial portion of your wealth is tied up in a family or closely held business, you may be concerned that your estate will lack sufficient liquid assets to pay federal estate taxes. If that’s the case, your heirs may be forced to borrow funds or, in a worst-case scenario, sell the business in […]Continue reading

Have You Properly Funded Your Revocable Trust?

If your estate plan includes a revocable trust — also known as a “living” trust — it’s critical to ensure that the trust is properly funded. Revocable trusts offer significant benefits, including asset management (in the event you become incapacitated) and probate avoidance. But these benefits aren’t available if you don’t fund the trust. The […]Continue reading

Ensuring a Peaceful Succession with a Buy-Sell Agreement

A buy-sell agreement is a critical component of succession planning for many businesses. It sets the terms and conditions under which an owner’s business interest can be sold to another owner (or owners) should an unexpected tragedy or turn of events occurs. It also establishes the method for determining the price of the interest. This […]Continue reading

Back-to-School Marketing Ideas for Savvy Business Owners

August is back-to-school time across the country. Whether the school buses are already rumbling down your block, or will be soon, the start of the school year brings marketing opportunities for savvy business owners. Here are some examples of ways companies can promote themselves. A Virtual “Brag Book” A creative agency posts on social media […]Continue reading

Powers of Attorney: Springing vs. Nonspringing

Estate planning typically focuses on what happens to your assets when you die. But it’s equally important (some might say more important) to have a plan for making critical financial and medical decisions if you’re unable to make those decisions yourself. That’s where the power of attorney (POA) comes in. A POA appoints a trusted […]Continue reading

Beware the GST Tax When Transferring Assets to Grandchildren

As you plan your estate, don’t overlook the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax. Despite a generous $5.49 million GST tax exemption, complexities surrounding its allocation can create several tax traps for the unwary. GST Basics The GST tax is a flat, 40% tax on transfers to “skip persons,” including grandchildren, other family members more than a generation […]Continue reading

What You Need to Know About the LaSalle Detention Facility and Pine Prairie Correctional Center

Immigrants who are detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and placed in removal proceedings in Louisiana will most likely be either be housed either at the LaSalle Detention Facility in Jena, Louisiana or the Pine Prairie Correctional Center in Pine Prairie, Louisiana. These facilities are run and operated by The Geo Group, Inc., […]Continue reading

Theus Law Offices