By Robert S. Keebler, CPA, MST, AEP (Distinguished) Bracket management has always been an important part of income tax planning. As we noted in our May newsletter, however, the 3.8% Medicare Surtax and higher tax rates make it even more important in 2013. We listed the following strategies that taxpayers can use to avoid the surtax and stay out of the higher tax brackets: (1) Income smoothing CRTs; (2) income shifting CRTs; (3) using NIMCRUTS as a substitute for or supplement to a retirement plan; (4) CLATs; (5) Life Insurance; (6) deferred annuities; (7) installment sales; (8) managing IRA distributions;…
Important Fraudulent Transfer Case: Cutuli v. Smith
According to asset protection attorney, Jay Adkisson, the Cutuli v. Smith case is one that estate planners and those doing asset protection planning need to carefully study and understand, particularly where you get a client that wants you to do asset protection planning and has an existing claim against them. FRAUDULENT TRANSFERS TRIGGERS CRIME/FRAUD EXCEPTION AND $10 MILLION PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN CUTULI By Jay D. Adkisson, Esq. From Forbes.com, reproduced with the expressed written consent and permission from Jay Adkisson. Sometimes the Courts will “throw the book” at a debtor and all those who assist the debtor in hiding assets…
Robert Keebler Charts Promotion – Get All 7 for Just $99!
Until tomorrow, September 18th, you can get all seven of Robert Keebler’s Client-Friendly Laminated Charts for just $99, normally $19.99 each. These charts are 11″x17″ and come printed in full color and laminated. These are great for explaining complex tax and retirement benefit planning concepts to clients. You can purchase multiple copies and even purchase a customized design to brand the chart with your firm’s logo. >>MORE INFO The seven charts include: The Personal Exemption Phaseout & PEASE Impact This chart evaluates the Personal Exemption Phaseout and the PEASE impact, along with projected tax rates for 2013. The Healthcare Surtax…
The Ever-Growing Popularity of Our Teleconference & On-Demand CD Packages
Who doesn’t like getting stuff in the mail? Earlier this year, we began offering the option to purchase CD packages for all of our teleconference and On-Demand programs. This allowed our fellow estate planning professionals that preferred to be shipped a physical copy of the handout materials and an audio CD (or CD set, for longer programs) the opportunity to do so. Since we offered this option, we have seen a huge increase in the number of CD packages ordered for each of our teleconferences. In fact, the image above was just taken of the CD packages going out today…
Phil Kavesh to Present at the AVIVA 2013 Sales Expo in Arizona
Today, our President, Philip J. Kavesh, is in Arizona for AVIVA USA’s Sales Expo 2013 speaking on the topic, “The Top 22 Overlooked Uses of Life Insurance in 2013” before a select group of AVIVA’s finest brokers and agents. According to Phil, they’ve made some pretty big announcements here and there are some exciting things coming to AVIVA in 2014! Thanks again AVIVA for this wonderful opportunity to help educate your agents!
Teleconference On 709 Preparation HUGE Success!
Earlier today, we had almost 100 people attend our popular educational program entitled, “The Ins & Outs of Correct 709 Prep“. It is very clear that this is an area that many estate planners want further guidance on how to properly plan and prepare the gift tax return. Here are what just a couple of people had to say about today’s program: “Very good session on a most-confusing area!” – D. Zanish, CPA “Excellent, as always!” – C. Boomgarden, CPA Still a popular area, we will be looking to put together another program with either further in-depth discussion on the…
September 11th: Staff Tell Their Personal Stories of That Day
Today is September 11th. It is hard to believe that it has been 12 years since that tragic day. That day when television seemed like the movies and reality was so far out of reach for so many. If you ask anyone what they were doing that day, they all remember and they all have a story. Here are our staff’s stories of that day that will never be forgotten. MEGAN’S STORY I grew up in a suburb just south of Washington, D.C. and was in my 8th grade language arts class on the day of the 9/11 attacks. Our…
Maximizing IRAs Using Trusts: Kavesh Technique Anticipates Boom by Robert L. Moshman, Esq.
Reproduced with the expressed written consent and permission from Robert L. Moshman, Esq., author of the The Estate Analyst. To contact Bob Moshman to be included on his distribution list of his monthly newsletter, e-mail Bob at bmoshman@optonline.net. A Baby Boomer with an otherwise unremarkable estate could leave behind a supercharged IRA that empowers beneficiaries. Philip J. Kavesh, a veteran estate planning attorney who has trained thousands of financial professionals, took part in designing the IRA Inheritance Trust® and successfully obtained a Private Letter Ruling for the technique in 2005. Although several variations of “stretch-out” or “see-through” trusts have performed…
SPECIAL TELECONFERENCE: DOMA Update on Last Week’s Breakthrough IRS Ruling 2013-17
Since the Supreme Court’s overturning of DOMA in the Windsor decision, many questions have remained unanswered regarding its effect on income, gift and estate taxes, as well as health and retirement benefits. Until now. The IRS has spoken! On August 29th, the IRS released its breakthrough Revenue Ruling 2013-17 offering clarity and guidance on many previously open issues – – and reveals numerous planning opportunities for your clients, if you’re “in the know”. Whether you’re a CPA, financial advisor, or attorney, join us and nationally renowned CPA and tax authority, Robert Keebler, CPA, MST, AEP, on Thursday, September 5, 2013…
The Windsor Effect: Why Many Same-Sex Couples Will Be Looking to Leave Florida and Where They May Go
By Alan Gassman, J.D., LL.M. (Taxation), Florida State Bar Certified Specialist & Christopher Denicolo, J.D., LL.M. (Estate Planning) Much buzz has followed the recent United States Supreme Court decision of United States v. Windsor, 570 U.S. ___ (2013), where the Court held that a federal statute providing that the term “spouse” only applies to a marriage between a man and a woman was unconstitutional based on the due process clause and equal protection principles under the Fifth Amendment. In its decision, the Court deferred the definition and regulation of marriage to the separate States. This effectively causes the marital status…