Tag: Trusts

Before he died in 2010, at the age of 90, Albert made out a will – with a clause. Which brings us back to the Ravenholt family reunion. To receive their share of Albert’s wealth, his nieces and nephews are required to attend… Just as in life, the greatest gift is truly made in values […]

Many trusts were set up over the years to help protect wealth from estate taxes. But the federal estate-tax exemption has risen steadily in recent years, to $5.25 million, or $10.5 million for couples, from $1 million in 2003. This year, Congress made the exemption permanent and indexed it to inflation. As a result, fewer […]

Growing numbers of families – as older parents move into their 80s and 90s – are finding themselves grappling with the transfer of second homes. If you have a family vacation home, have you considered what will happen to the property after you are gone? While you are undoubtedly enjoying the memories you are making […]

Don’t be surprised if your CPA or financial planner starts babbling acronyms: CRUT, CRAT, NICRUT, NIMCRUT, Flip CRUT. Hear him out. The higher federal tax rates that kicked in this year have given all these variants of the four-decade-old charitable remainder trust new appeal for upper-income folks. Charity doesn’t always mean a one-way act of […]