For years, too much emphasis has been placed on taxation in estate planning.
The words ethics, fiduciary, trust and honor have become almost buzzwords in our industry – but what do they mean when practically applied to estate planning?
Though even basic estate plans are complex and fraught with potential for error, the most common mistake is simpler – and easier to overlook – than you might think.
Because of their tax-deferred nature, retirement plans can be challenging to handle within an estate plan, and yet they’re often a client’s most valuable asset.
A big decision within the estate planning process is whether using a will or a trust (or both) makes the most sense for your clients and their beneficiaries.
If you’ve ever been asked to act as someone’s trustee, or if you’ve asked a friend or family member to fill the role for you, it’s important to understand exactly what this role entails.
Selecting the right executor and trustee is a critical decision facing everyone creating an estate plan.
If you have clients thinking about leveraging a DIY service for estate planning instead of working with a professional estate planning attorney, walk them through these important conversation points first.
Mary Ellen Pleasant, African American woman and self-made millionaire, used her fortune to fight slavery, then tragically lost it because of a lack of estate planning.
What trustee type is best for your client’s estate? Learn about the pros and cons of giving fiduciary responsibility to one type of trustee over others.
45 million US households will soon transfer $70 trillion in assets to heirs. Ride the wealth transfer wave by engaging clients in estate planning now.
Are you encouraging wealth transfer clients to consider professional trustee services? Learn more about the benefits of choosing a corporate trustee.
Prince passed away and had no will. What happened next should be a lesson for us all.
