Estate planning is a crucial process for anyone looking to protect their family and assets, but for families with a loved one who has special needs, it requires additional considerations. Without proper planning, a well-intentioned inheritance can inadvertently...
Content By Susan L. Friedman
QSBS Capital Gains Exclusions: Utilize Estate Planning to Maximize Benefits
Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) offers business owners significant federal tax benefits of exclusion of up to $10 million or ten times the stock's basis in capital gains, whichever is greater. The stock must be held for at least five years prior to a sale. This...
What Gene Hackman’s Estate Reveals About Proper Estate Planning
The recent death of legendary actor, Gene Hackman, age 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, age 65, has brought attention to the complexities surrounding their estate and illustrates the need for proper estate planning. At his death, Gene Hackman had an estate worth...
Escaping the Sunset? Not So Fast: Fate of the TCJA Estate Exemptions Remains Uncertain
It may take just 3 Republicans in the U.S. House to defeat a new Tax Cuts and Job Act (TCJA) extension and exactly 3 of the 12 Republicans, who voted against the TCJA in 2017, have been reelected to the U.S. House. BACKGROUND When The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017...
What the 2024 Election Means for Estate Planning and the TCJA Sunset
Estate Planning and the TCJA Estate planners are once again preparing for the potential expiration of key tax provisions. In 2010, the federal government stepped in with The Tax Relief Act of 2010 to avoid the sunset provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief...
LGBTQ+ Estate Planning: 5 Actions You Should Take Right Now
Gallup reports that 7.6% of U.S. adults currently identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or another sexual orientation other than heterosexual. While this figure represents a growing trend, individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ represent a minority within...
IRS Increases 2025 Federal Estate Tax Exemption and Gift Tax Exclusions: Key Points for Taxpayers
Estate planning is a lot like putting together a puzzle. The client provides you with their box lid showing what they want the ultimate result of their plan to look like. Then, estate planners are tasked to identify and gather the various pieces and put it all...
The SECURE Act: Key Changes and Updates
The SECURE Act: Key Changes and Updates The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act) was originally signed into law on December 20, 2019. The Act simplifies the process for businesses to establish “safe harbor” retirement plans, making...
Can an Irrevocable Trust Be Changed? Insights from Rupert Murdoch’s Case
The Murdoch's Battle Over Their Media Empire The Murdoch heirs are battling over control of their multi-billion-dollar media empire. Adding to the complexity, the fight involves an irrevocable trust which Rupert Murdoch created in 1999. He executed the trust after...
Navigating Section 1014 and the TCJA: A Deep Dive into the IRS Ruling on Basis Adjustments
Understanding the nuances of the Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) is crucial for effective estate planning and tax strategy. For example, estate planners must be familiar with the tax basis adjustment provisions in 26 U.S.C. § 1014. This article provides a detailed...