When a spouse dies, the law is completely clear. In the U.S., even without a will, the widow or widower automatically gets the assets. Being married is like taking the car pool lane, says Frederick Hertz, an attorney in Oakland, Calif., and author...

Last month we discussed the benefits of limited partnerships and limited liability companies as estate planning tools. This month we will look at the recent Hackl case, which struck terror in the hearts of estate planning professionals and their...

When meeting with current or prospective clients who have young children, you can, by asking one simple question and two follow-ups, gain their trust, get them to disclose their entire financial picture and ingratiate yourself with a great source...

If you are serving high-net-worth clients or hope to do so you should be familiar with family limited partnerships, or their kissing cousins, limited liability companies. These are estate planning and asset management tools that wealthy families...

In a market pummeled by accounting scandals, tainted research and economic malaise where even mutual funds are fizzling it makes sense to look for something your customers can feel good about. College savings plans, the so-called Section 529...

A 529? What's That? A majority of retail investors are still unfamiliar with 529 plans

It's easy to see why charitable remainder trusts, or CRTs, continue to grow in popularity. You get to eat your cake and have it, too. CRTs allow donors to sell appreciated stock without paying capital gains, place them in trust and hang onto an...