Bischoff: Beneficial estate and gift tax provisions are set to expire at the end of this year. Here’s what to expect. by Bill Bischoff Smart Money The 2010 Bush tax cut extension legislation also established a favorable, but temporary, federal estate and gift tax regime for 2011 and 2012. But we will go back to [...]

Forbes by Rob Clarfeld It never fails to amaze me that so many otherwise savvy individuals, many of whom have their financial lives otherwise buttoned-up, use poor judgment (or no judgment) when it comes to their estate planning.  The list of major estate omissions and poor choices is almost infinite.  Here are some of the [...]

By LAUREN FOSTER | Barrons It’s easy for trustees to botch their roles. Here’s how to avoid the common pitfalls. Trust and estate planning often comes down to three questions: Who gets what? How do you minimize taxes? And, once a trust has been set up, who is in control? Unfortunately, it’s easy for a family [...]

It is extremely important for advisors to speak to clients about how to properly plan for their loved one with special needs. By Lauren K. Keenan and Lori K. Murphy Bean Recently, a couple came to our firm seeking assistance with basic business succession planning but it quickly became clear that they also needed to [...]

BOSTON — When it comes to retirement, the average American age 65 and older generates nearly two-thirds of their total income from a combination of earned income and Social Security, with the rest coming from pensions and personal assets. But despite the fact that millions are earning income and collecting at the same time, there’s [...]

High hidden fees, long surrender periods just some of the pitfalls of indexed annuities, argues ex-Treasury official Smetters; insurers, agents beg to differ January 24, 2011 3:55 pm ET When Helen Siswein, a retired teacher, heard about an investment that might earn 8 percent a year and never lose money, she was sold. “I thought, [...]

The need for retirement planning doesn’t end with the onset of retirement. A new retiree’s focus shifts from building wealth to managing and preserving it. One major challenge is to make the investment portfolio supply cash flow for the duration of life—and through different economic and market conditions. Experts have studied portfolio longevity or endurance [...]

Planning allocations between entities and beneficiaries is even more critical with higher tax rates on the horizon. By Sonja Pippin, Ph.D. – Journal of Accountancy New tax laws will have a significant impact on the taxation of trusts. If you, or someone you know, is acting as trustee to an irrevocable trust, then you need [...]

By MARK WHITEHOUSE – WALL STREET JOURNAL America’s baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—face a problem that could weigh on the economy for years to come: The longer it takes for the economy to recover, the less money they’ll have to spend in retirement. Policy makers have long worried that Americans aren’t saving enough [...]