Friday, October 29, 2010 Press Coverage of Estate Planning this Week (October 29, 2010)
Paul Katzeff of Investor’s Business Daily discusses why low interest rates make grantor retained annuity trusts (GRAT) and charitable lead trusts (CLT) attractive estate planning strategies. He also discusses key differences between GRATs and CLTs, for instance GRATs are preferred for assets with high appreciation potential, while CLTs can offer upfront income tax deductions. See Estate Strategies Helped By Low Interest Rates (Oct. 22, 2010).
Chris Kennedy writes in the Visalia Times-Delta about what a fiduciary is and does. Generally, fiduciaries cover a variety of roles in which an individual serves in a position of trust by accepting responsibility for taking care of the property and/or needs of another person, for the benefit of that person. Fiduciaries can be family members or non-family professional fiduciaries, and specific roles include acting as a person’s conservator or trustee. See The Roles of the Fiduciary Are Many (Oct. 23, 2010).
Chris Barth of Forbes offers advice on organizing your affairs so that your spouse has the information necessary to run the family finances if anything should happen to you. Steps to take include: keeping a list of computer passwords and logins; listing financial and professional advisors; keeping estate plan documents up to date; and ensuring beneficiary designations are up to date. See How to Protect Your Spouse Financially After You’re Gone (Oct. 27, 2010). Friday, April 03, 2009 Press Coverage of Estate Planning This Week (April 3, 2009)Arden Dale of Dow Jones Newswires writes about investing trust assets from the institutional trustee's perspective. How flexible a trustee will be often depends on the number of beneficiaries, and whether future conflicts among them are likely. See Changing Investments in a Trust (Apr. 2, 2009).
Deborah L. Jabobs of the New York Times discusses how moving to another state could impact your estate plan. If you move, but fail to sever ties with the former state, both states may make estate tax claims against your estate. See Wherever You Go, the Taxman Goes (Apr. 2, 2009).
Charles V. Bagli of the New York Times recounts a 25-year fight over a New York real estate developer's estate. Two daughters thought their father died broke and without a will in 1956, but learned otherwise in 1983. It turns out the brother had for many years been managing muliple properties passed down from his father. See Family Fued Over Estate Nears an End After 25 Years (Mar. 30, 2009). |