Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Using a Medicaid Trust As Asset Protection From Nursing Homes
If you want to protect your assets from being used to pay for potential nursing home cost in the future, the key is to start planning today. While you could address your long-term care costs with a tax-qualified LTC insurance policy, those can be pricey and don’t match everyone’s needs. However, there is a… Read More »
4 Little Known Powers of a Durable Power of Attorney
You undoubtedly have heard of durable powers of attorney while planning your estate. You may understand them as trusted individuals who will maintain your health care directives or help manage your finances after you have passed. Durable Powers of Attorney are just that: powerful. They should be selected with careful deliberation and they should… Read More »
Add spendthrift language to a trust to safeguard assets
Protecting assets from creditors is a critical aspect of estate planning, but you need to think about more than just your own creditors: You also need to consider your heirs’ creditors. Adding spendthrift language to a trust benefiting your heirs can help safeguard assets. Spendthrift language explained Despite its name, the purpose of a… Read More »
If art donations are part of your estate plan, consider these four tips
Charitable giving is a key part of estate planning for many people. If you have a collection of valuable art and are charitably minded, consider donating one or more pieces to receive tax deductions. Generally, it’s advantageous to donate appreciated property to avoid capital gains taxes. Because the top federal capital gains rate for… Read More »
Avoid These Top 5 Estate Planning Disasters
Every estate plan is unique, but many of the problems are all the same. The following estate planning mistakes can be disastrous for your future but are all easily avoidable with the proper help and planning. All you need is a little extra knowledge to make your estate plan go a long way. Designating… Read More »
Properly funding your revocable trust is the key to unlocking its benefits
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…. Read More »
What Are Inter Vivos Trusts?
While this Latin term may sound complex, inter vivos trusts are actually very simple. They are trusts that are created while you are still alive as opposed to testamentary trusts, which are created by your will and only go into effect after your death. There are many different types of inter vivos trusts that… Read More »
Life insurance can be a powerful estate planning tool for nontaxable estates
For years, life insurance has played a critical role in estate planning, providing a source of liquidity to pay estate taxes and other expenses. Today, the gift and estate tax exemption has climbed to $11.4 million, so estate taxes are no longer a concern for the vast majority of families. But even for nontaxable estates,… Read More »
Protecting Your Estate in a Disaster
Often we think of the assets of our estate only in terms of what will happen after we die. But, a sudden tragedy or disaster could throw a wrench in your plans. Just like you would store first aid, batteries, and flashlights away for a potential storm, you should also be putting certain documents,… Read More »
Companion piece: Create a “road map” for your estate plan
No matter how much effort you’ve invested in designing your estate plan, your will, trusts and other official documents may not be enough. Consider creating a “road map” — an informal letter or other document that guides your family in understanding and executing your plan and ensuring that your wishes are carried out. Navigating… Read More »