Many high net worth individuals have worked very hard to accumulate wealth and build something of value that they can pass on to their families once they are gone. However, their heirs may be faced with exorbitant tax bills associated with this transfer of wealth when the time comes.
Read more4 Ways to Avoid the Estate Tax for High Net Worth Families
It may be a difficult subject to navigate, but when it comes to estate planning, there are certain steps you should take now to avoid probate. Probate—the court proceedings that transfer ownership of an estate from the decedent to their benefactors upon death—is a timely and costly process that can take a toll on grieving families. Probate can also be incredibly confusing and take months or years to sort out. And because it is a court proceeding, it becomes public record. The good news is, depending on your assets, there are several things you can do to avoid probate proceedings. Here are five ways to avoid it in California:
During the week of September 12th this year, news began circulating of President Biden’s proposed tax increase to offset up to $3.5 trillion that they plan to spend on the social safety net and climate policy. While it is still in the initial proposal stages, if passed, this tax increase would affect top corporations and wealthy individuals—and thus would also potentially create big changes with things such as estate and gift tax exemptions. This proposed bill would go into effect in 2022. If it sounds familiar that’s because it shares many elements of the 99.5 Percent Act proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse earlier this summer—which proposed many reduced monetary thresholds involving estate and gift federal tax liabilities. Let’s take a deeper look into the details of this new tax increase proposal and what they might mean for you.
Read moreHow the Proposed Tax Increase Reform May Affect You
Now that tax season is wrapping up, we can all take a deep breath. With the pandemic looming over all of us in 2020, change has become the only thing we can consistently count on these days.
Have you considered who will take on the guardianship role for your children or family members with special needs if something happens to you?
When a person hears the word “crime,” images of bank robberies or people being mugged in dark alleys easily come to mind. But violent crime isn’t the only form of crime. Crimes committed by business and government professionals with the intention of gaining a financial advantage, property, or services, without using violent means, is known … Read moreAll About White-Collar Crimes
It’s the new year and with that comes new goals! Usually, people vow to get in better shape or to save money for something big. However, we tend to start off strong and have no follow-through. Creating an estate plan is a lot like getting into better shape. We all know we should do it, but most of us never make it to the finish line because the task seems daunting.
In November’s recent election, California passed Proposition 19 (Prop 19), which has changed two important California property tax assessments that could have a lasting impact on your estate planning.
With the introduction of the Setting Every Community Up For Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act in effect as of January 1, 2020, new and big changes have been made that affect one large aspect of retirement accounts: the payout process for beneficiaries. Previously, those who inherited someone’s retirement account were able to spread withdrawals from the account over the course of their lifetime. However, under the SECURE Act, beneficiaries are now required to withdraw all funds from an account within a 10 year period.
Read moreThe SECURE Act: How it Affects Estate Planning and What to Do
Oh, the burden of setting up an estate plan. With so many steps to take in the process of planning your estate, it can be easy to unintentionally leave some important things out, such as providing for the furry member of your family in your overall plan – your pet.
Read moreWhy and How to Provide for a Pet In Your Estate Plan