What’s an “Assignment and Nominee” agreement and what does it do? Prudent attorneys use such an agreement as a belt and suspenders approach to funding.  We include this critical planning tool in each trust-based estate plan we create for our clients. See the following discussion of them by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about What is an Assignment and Nominee Agreement?

Leaving assets to your adult children or other beneficiaries may seem simple. But in many situations, it can be quite tricky. For example, if you have a beneficiary with special needs, you must take special care. This last installment of a 3 part series by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert, explores these sometimes thorny issues. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky – Part 3 of 3

Leaving assets to your adult children or other beneficiaries may seem simple. But in many situations, it can be quite tricky. This second installment of a three part series by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert, explores these sometimes thorny issues. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky – Part 2 of 3

Leaving assets to your adult children or other beneficiaries may seem simple. But in many situations, it can be quite tricky.  This three part series by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert, explores these sometimes thorny issues. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Leaving Assets Can Be Tricky – Part 1 of 3

Life insurance is included in the taxable estate typically. A trust is a great way to remove the value of life insurance from the estate. But, there are two potential traps in this as discussed by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert in this artcle. Read on to learn more … [Read more...] about Removing Life Insurance from the Taxable Estate

Life insurance is included in the taxable estate typically. A trust is a great way to remove the value of life insurance from the taxable estate. But there are two potential traps in this. The prior article examined the first trap, the three-year lookback of Section 2035. This article by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert will examine how the Transfer for Value rule can make life insurance taxable. Read on to learn more about how to avoid the income taxation of … [Read more...] about Removing Life Insurance Without Triggering the Transfer for Value Rule

This is the third in a three-part series of articles on Powers of Attorney by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert. The first article examined the Financial Power of Attorney. This second article examines the Healthcare Power of Attorney and Advance Directive. Read on to learn more … [Read more...] about The Basics: “HIPAA” Powers

Powers of Attorney are part of even the simplest estate plan. A Power of Attorney allows your Agent to act for you. There are Powers of Attorney for financial matters and also those for health care. This article by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert, concerns the Healthcare Powers of Attorney and Advance Directives. Read on to learn more … [Read more...] about The Basics: Powers of Attorney for Healthcare

Powers of Attorney are part of even the simplest estate plan. A Power of Attorney allows your Agent to act for you. There are Powers of Attorney for financial matters and also those for health care as discussed by my friend and colleague Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert. Read on to learn more … [Read more...] about The Basics: Financial Power of Attorney

The coronavirus has caused upheaval in society and the economy. But, this unique time also opens up opportunities in estate planning. Read this blog by my friend and colleague, Steve Hartnett, an estate planning expert, to learn more. Low-Interest Loans: An Estate Planning Technique … [Read more...] about Low-Interest Loans: An Estate Planning Technique