Recent News & Blog / Estate Planning
Provide for multiple generations using a dynasty trust
A dynasty trust can preserve substantial amounts of wealth (and potentially shelter it from federal gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes) for generations to come. Plus, it can provide various other benefits and protections for families for an extended period (perhaps forever). The trust can be established during your lifetime, as an inter vivos trust, or part of your will as a testamentary trust. Contact the CPAs and estate advisors at SEK for more information.
A self-directed IRA can benefit your estate plan — but know the risks
IRAs can be powerful estate planning tools. With a “self-directed” IRA, you may be able to amp up the benefits of these tools by enabling them to hold nontraditional investments that offer potentially greater returns. However, it may also present unfavorable tax consequences. Contact the CPAs and tax advisors at SEK for your estate planning questions.
Beware these 5 estate planning pitfalls
No one likes to contemplate his or her mortality, but having a plan in place can provide you and your loved ones peace of mind should you unexpectedly become incapacitated or die. Here are five basic pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. Contact the CPAs and estate planning advisors at SEK for assistance to help ensure you’ve covered all the estate planning bases.
Undue influence claims may upend your estate plan
If someone is found to have exerted “undue influence” over your final estate decisions, a family member may challenge your will after your death. Establishing that you are “of sound mind and body” when you sign your will can go a long way toward combating an undue influence claim. Contact the CPAs and estate advisors at SEK for additional steps you can take to avoid future undue influence claims.
Don’t overlook digital assets in your estate plan
When it comes to digital assets, it’s important to know that, unlike other asset types, they leave little to no “paper trail.” Thus, unless your estate plan specifically provides for them, it may be difficult for your family to access these assets (or even know that they exist). Contact SEK for more information.
An HSA can be a healthy supplement to your wealth-building regimen
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) allow eligible individuals to lower their out-of-pocket health care costs and federal tax bills. An HSA can also supplement your other retirement savings vehicles and offer estate planning benefits. Be aware that the tax implications of inheriting an HSA differ substantially depending on who receives it. Contact the CPAs and tax advisors at SEK for more information.
Assets with sentimental value may require more thoughtful planning than those with greater monetary value
As a formal estate planning term, “tangible personal property” likely won’t elicit much emotion from you or your loved ones. However, the items that make up tangible personal property, such as jewelry and antiques, may be the most difficult to plan for because of their significant sentimental value. Without special planning, squabbling among your loved ones over these items may lead to emotionally charged disputes and even litigation. Contact the CPAs and financial planning advisors at SEK for estate planning tips.
Making will revisions by hand is rarely a good idea
To avoid the time and expense associated with formally updating your will, it may be tempting to simply make the change by hand and initial it. But this is almost always a bad idea. For one thing, handwritten changes are highly susceptible to a challenge. Even worse, depending on the law in your state, handwritten changes may not be binding.
April 15 is the deadline to file a gift tax return
If you made substantial gifts of wealth to family members in 2023, you may have to file a gift tax return. The return is due by April 15 of the year after you make the gift, so the deadline for 2023 gifts is coming up soon. Contact the CPAs and tax advisors at SEK for more details.
Lines may blur when it comes to estate and family business succession planning
If you own a closely held business and don’t take the proper estate planning steps to ensure that it lives on after you’re gone, you may be placing your family at risk. One challenge of transferring a family business is distinguishing between ownership and management succession. Contact the CPAs and business advisors at SEK to learn how to protect your family business and ensure the right estate planning.