Friday, September 03, 2010 Press Coverage of Estate Planning this Week (September 3, 2010)
Kelli B. Grant of SmartMoney offers six suggestions for cutting the cost of a funeral. Many families spend too much, according to the article, because they are not prepared, not informed, and in no mood to bargain. Suggestions include learning your rights when dealing with funeral homes, planning ahead to set a reasonable budget for a funeral, and shopping around for a casket. See How to Cut Funeral Costs Now (Aug. 30, 2010).
Paul Sullivan of the New York Times discusses taking advantage of 2010’s relatively low 35 percent gift tax rate in anticipation that the tax will rise next year. Because of the uncertainty, some planners are advising clients to determine a course of action on gifts now, then wait until the final weeks of this year to enact it, in light of any federal legislation that could pass between now and the beginning of 2011. See A Year to Give to Your Heirs, and Save on Taxes (Aug. 27, 2010). |