Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Does your estate plan include a formula funding clause?
The gift and estate tax exemption is higher than it’s ever been, thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which temporarily doubled the exemption to an inflation-adjusted $10 million ($20 million for married couples who design their estate plans properly). This year, the exemption amount is $11.4 million ($22.8 million for married couples). If you’re married… Read More »
Five Florida Tax Based Estate Planning Tips
You’ve worked hard to build wealth. When it comes to your estate planning, certain tax moves could really benefit your estate. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law on December 22, 2017 changed the game when it comes to tax planning. Some of these changes are temporary and some are permanent. The… Read More »
Estate planning for single parents requires special considerations
Here’s a fast fact: The percentage of U.S. children who live with an unmarried parent has jumped from 13% in 1968 to 32% in 2017, according to Pew Research Center’s most recent poll. While estate planning for single parents is similar to estate planning for families with two parents, when only one parent is… Read More »
College financing may be an integral part of your estate plan
The staggering cost of college makes it critical for families to plan carefully for this major expense, and in many cases grandparents want to play a role. As you examine the many financing options for your grandchildren, be sure to consider their impact on your estate plan. Make direct payments A simple, but effective,… Read More »
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 »