Friday, April 10, 2009 Press Coverage of Estate Planning This Week (April 10, 2009)Mike Spector and Anne Tergesen of the Wall Street Journal discuss the pros and cons of Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts, which move money out of your taxable estate so that future appreciation is transferred to your heirs tax free. Lowered asset values and low interest rates make this strategy more likely to succeed, but risks remain. See Unusual Trusts Gain Appeal in Unusual Time (Apr. 7, 2009).
Jane Bennett Clark of Kiplinger's Personal Finance writes about the best ways to give money to children and grandchildren without violating the gift tax rules. See Charity Begins at Home (April 2009).
Kelly Greene of the Wall Street Journal points out a law change that will allow children and others who inherit a 401(k) or other qualified plan to stretch out plan distributions based on the recipient's life expectancy. Beginning in 2010, children will be able to roll over an inherited 401(k) into their IRA; previously only spouses could do so. See New Tax Law Will Treat All 401(k) Heirs Equally (Apr. 4, 2009). |