From The Wall Street Journal (12/26/10) “The 2011 Economic Outlook – and What it Means for You”: anyone expecting those (tax) gifts from Washington to lift the cloud of uncertainty hanging over the U.S. economy will be disappointed. If anything, the outlook is hazier than ever.
Posts Tagged: Estate planning
Portability: a Good Idea but Will it Last?
Estate tax exclusion “portability” is a nice idea, but dangerous if you don’t understand its implications.
Congress Extends the IRA Charitable Rollover
An important piece of the new tax act is the extension of a great way to make charitable gifts through your IRA. The only catch is you have to be 70-1/2 or older to take advantage of it.
Let the IRS take a bath for a change
Estate taxes are completely optional for those who are motivated to avoid them. A special wrinkle in the law provides a rare opportunity to make gifts to charity and your loved ones without the IRS or Congress getting their hands on your assets after you are gone.
Obama to Enact End-of-Life Planning for Medicare – NYTimes.com
The New York Times reports that the Obama administration is putting “death panels” back into its overhaul of our health care system. It is using regulation to accomplish what it could not achieve through the legislative process.
The Latest Temporary Estate Tax Rules
Now we know what the gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax rules will be–for the next two years, as Congress passes the “tax relief” bill that we have been hearing so much about. There may be good reason to breathe a sigh of relief, but not to put off estate planning.
No Social Security COLA for 2011
Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 58 million Americans will not automatically increase in 2011.
Medicare Open Enrollment Begins November 15
MEDICARE enrollment season is approaching, and many experts believe it will be turbulent because of changes in the system and new coverage options. Take some steps now to educate yourself so you can minimize the confusion for yourself and your loved ones.
Do you really want to be a Trustee?
Being named as a Trustee is a great honor. It is an even greater responsibility. There are some things you should think about before you accept the role.
There is More to it than “Who Gets My Stuff?”
Most people think estate planning is all about avoiding probate and taxes so they can maximize what they leave their loved ones. There is a far more important reason to “put your house in order.”