Legendary singer Aretha Franklin died more than six years ago. However, it wasn’t until last year that a Michigan judge ruled a handwritten document discovered under her couch cushions was a valid will. This case illustrates the dangers of a so-called “holographic” will. It’s one where the entire document is handwritten and signed without the […]Continue reading
Tax planning is only a small component of estate planning — and usually not even the most important one for most people. The primary goal of estate planning is to protect your family, and saving taxes is just one of many strategies you can use to provide for your family’s financial security. Another equally important […]Continue reading
Louisiana Estate Planning Laws Estate planning is an essential aspect of financial management, ensuring that a person’s assets are distributed according to their wishes after death. Louisiana, with its unique legal background influenced by the Napoleonic Code, has certain distinct estate planning laws that residents should be aware of. By meeting with our skilled Louisiana […]Continue reading
Do you own your principal residence? If so, you’re likely aware that you can benefit from the home’s build-up in equity, realize current tax breaks and pocket a sizable tax-exempt gain when you sell it. And from an estate planning perspective, it may be beneficial to transfer ownership of your home to a qualified personal […]Continue reading
Life insurance can be a powerful estate planning tool. Indeed, it creates an instant source of wealth and liquidity to meet your family’s financial needs after you’re gone. And to shield the proceeds from potential estate taxes, thus ensuring more money for your loved ones, many people transfer their policies to irrevocable life insurance trusts […]Continue reading
A tax law change in 2019 essentially ended “stretch IRAs” by requiring most beneficiaries of inherited IRAs (other than a spouse) to withdraw all of the funds within 10 years. Since then, there’s been confusion surrounding inherited IRAs and the so called “10-year rule” for required minimum distributions (RMDs). That is, until now. The IRS […]Continue reading
A difficult aspect of planning your estate is taking into account your family members’ needs after your death. Indeed, after you’re gone, events may transpire that you hadn’t anticipated or couldn’t have reasonably foreseen. While there’s no way to predict the future, you can supplement your estate plan with a trust provision that provides a […]Continue reading
Getting divorced and dividing up assets is no easy matter. At least you can sell a house, a car or certain other possessions and distribute the proceeds to the two ex-spouses according to ownership rights under the law. But liquidating other types of property, such as assets in a qualified retirement plan, can be more […]Continue reading
When it comes to your 401(k) plan, you may have a choice to make regarding contributions. Should you make contributions on a pre-tax (traditional) basis or on an after-tax (Roth) basis? The right answer depends on your current and expected future tax circumstances as well as your estate planning goals. Traditional vs. Roth 401(k)s The […]Continue reading
When creating estate plans, people generally take their children and grandchildren into consideration and plan accordingly. For those who would like to plan beyond the next two generations, using a dynasty trust may be the answer. A dynasty trust can preserve substantial amounts of wealth — and potentially shelter it from federal gift, estate and […]Continue reading
