» Estate Planning

Is an Income-Tax Time Bomb Lurking in Your Estate Plan?

Is an Income-Tax Time Bomb Lurking in Your Estate Plan? As the federal estate tax exemption has ballooned from $5 million in 2011 to $13.99 million today, the need for estate tax planning has drastically decreased. However, with a top marginal income… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning

Estate Planning Strategies to Protect Your Spouse

Estate Planning Strategies to Protect Your Spouse You found the love of your life, and as you have built your life together, you have likely weathered your fair share of storms and grown stronger because of them. Now that you are married, you are uni… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning

Why Every Co-Owner of Farmland Needs a Buy-Sell Agreement

Why Every Co-Owner of Farmland Needs a Buy-Sell Agreement When two or more people co-own farmland—whether it’s a father and son, siblings, or long-time business partners—one critical question looms: What happens when one of us retires, pass… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning, Farm

The Lifetime QTIP Trust

The Lifetime QTIP Trust Estate planning for couples in a second or subsequent marriage can be tricky, especially if their estates are disproportionate. One solution that allows the more affluent spouse to maintain control of their property and wealth… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning

Planning for Real Estate in a Foreign Country

Planning for Real Estate in a Foreign Country The allure of a foreign land—perhaps where the weather is milder, the pace of life slower, and the cost of living lower—is a dream for many Americans who want to escape our country’s fast-paced, hig… Read More
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Does Treating Your Children Fairly Mean Unequal Inheritances?

Does Treating Your Children Fairly Mean Unequal Inheritances? When thinking through their estate plan and how they want their assets (money and property) managed after they pass away, most parents wish to treat their children equally, often out of a… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning

Minimalism May Be Great for Your Stuff and Finances but Not for Your Estate Plan

Minimalism May Be Great for Your Stuff and Finances but Not for Your Estate Plan In a modern world marked by information overload, overflowing inboxes, nonstop notifications, and the constant pressure to accumulate more stuff, minimalism offers a com… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning

What Farmers Need to Know About the Changing Estate Tax Landscape

What Farmers Need to Know About the Changing Estate Tax Landscape Estate taxes are a topic most people would rather avoid—but for farmers, understanding how these taxes work is critical to protecting the family farm and ensuring a smooth succession… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning, Farm

Why Can’t We Have a Joint Trust If We Are Not Married?

Why Can’t We Have a Joint Trust If We Are Not Married? Joint trusts are beneficial for many married couples, especially if they have a stable relationship, do not have many creditors, and do not live in a state where their estate may be subject to… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning

Planning for the Unthinkable: Essential Tools for Parents of Minor Children

Planning for the Unthinkable: Essential Tools for Parents of Minor Children Approximately three-fourths of Americans do not have a basic will.[1] Many of the same people also have children under the age of 18, which underscores a major misunderstandi… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning