On Dec. 1, 2011, the Internal Revenue Service issued Revenue Ruling 2011-28,1 which finally clarified that a life insurance policy in an irrevocable trust isn't included in the grantor's estate if the grantor retains the right to...
In tax terms, a bargain sale is a sale to a charity for less than the fair market value (FMV) of the item being sold. These sales can be a real win-win: the charity acquires something it needs, but otherwise couldn't afford, and the donor/seller...
Many clients are planning to make large gifts before the end of 2012, to take advantage of what may be a fleeting opportunity to do so without incurring any gift tax. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of...
While federal law remains in flux on numerous fronts, there's been a flurry of state-level developments on a number of topics. Here's an overview of some key estate-planning issues that states were focused on as we went to press. Same-Sex...
Parents the world over worry about their children, particularly their ability to have success in their careers. Wealthy parents who plan to pass on their business or financial holdings to their sons and daughters face unique concerns and...
In the week of Mar. 12, the iShares Barclays 20 Year Treasury ETF (Ticker: TLT), which tracks longer-dated paper, fell by 4.1 percent. That's equivalent to a 500-point plus plunge in the Dow, according to Barron's. Our own Stan Luxenberg sent me...
