How often should you review your trust and estate plan? Is there a regular cycle to these reviews, or should they be driven by significant events in your life or the lives of your beneficiaries and executor or trustee? How will the next few years in Congress impact trust and...
Trust and Estate Planning for Business Owners
Why is the end of the year a good time to consider trust and estate planning for business owners. Do you own real property or have other investments outside of your business interests? Have you given any thought to what would happen if you become ill or incapacitated and are...
Those Above the Age of 50 Should Analyze Increased Tax Advantages of 401(k) Contributions in 2025
Are you above the age of 50? Do you and/or your spouse have a 401(k)? Are you interested in reducing the amount you will have to pay in 2025 income taxes while increasing the amount of money you receive after retirement? Those above the age of 50 should analyze increased...
Update your Trust and Estate Plan Regularly to Protect Your Interests
It is important to update your trust and estate plan regularly to protect your interests and meet the changing requirements of your future while integrating changes in law and best practices to provide for every potential scenario. "We were meaning to make some changes when Bob's health rapidly declined -...
The Immediate Importance of Estate Planning
What is the immediate importance of estate planning and why should any parent, business owner, homeowner, or those nearing retirement be focused on this issue? Why do most people delay one of the most critical financial and personal planning issues during their life (and after)? What changes are approaching within...
The Step-Up Benefit of a Revocable Trust
What is the step-up benefit of a revocable trust from the perspective of the beneficiaries? How can a revocable trust not only pass money and assets to your beneficiaries but save a substantial amount of tax in the process? The answer lies in an understanding of the short-term and long-term...
Remarriage and a Blended Family – It’s Time for a New or Updated Estate Plan
Are you considering remarriage? Do you and/or your spouse have children from a previous marriage? If so, remarriage and a blended family are excellent reasons for a new or updated estate plan. Blended families are quickly becoming the "norm" here in San Diego and across the U.S. What do you...
Passing Assets and Accounts to Your Heirs Is About To Become Much More Difficult
If you are in the process of long-term estate planning or updating an existing estate plan, the process for passing assets and accounts to your heirs is about to become much more difficult and expensive. Presently, each individual can pass $13.61 million in assets to beneficiaries and future generations without...
You Need to Review Your Irrevocable Trust
Do you employ an irrevocable trust or trusts as part of your estate plan? You need to review your irrevocable trust to ensure it still delivers the benefits intended. It is generally possible to modify an irrevocable trust, however, this requires expert guidance from an experienced tax and estate planning...