Whole Life as a Unique Planning Tool

By Jason Oshins, Financial Advisor, MBA  Given the financial condition of many families today, we’d be remiss not to explore whether more powerful retirement strategies exist than the ones typically employed. The traditional retirement strategy involves funding various financial vehicles during working years and then living off the income generated by these assets during retirement. As a result, each year retirees spend only the interest earned on their assets because they fear running out of money or preserving adequate legacy. At some point, they either sacrifice principal to maintain lifestyle or sacrifice lifestyle to maintain principal. Either way, they must…

The End of the Great Migration Into Bonds (Part 1 of 3)

A Once in 30-Year Opportunity to Build Your Practice in 2014 By Jeffrey Dunham, Financial Advisor | Volume 2, Issue 1 (January 2014) As The End of the Great Migration into BondsSM continues, it is presenting financial advisors with a unique opportunity to build their practice while simultaneously helping investors avoid a destruction of wealth that we feel may rival the 2008/2009 financial crisis. This opportunity exists because of two very simple yet crucial facts. The recognition of these facts can be the difference between a financial advisor having an average year or making 2014 a career year. First, is the vast…

The Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)—After the Final Regulations

  By Robert S. Keebler, CPA, MST, AEP (Distinguished) | Volume 2, Issue 1 (January 2014) The Final Regulations for Section 1411 and the NIIT were released on December 2, 2013. Along with the release of the Final Regulations, new 2013 Proposed Regulations were also released. While the Final Regulations generally made the 2012 Proposed Regulations final, there were some very interesting changes and additions made in both the Final Regulations and the 2013 Proposed Regulations. This article will point out some of the more interesting aspects of the Regulations. Properly Allocable Deductions Although the Final Regulations retained the requirement…

Top Ten Reasons Why People with Even Modest Estates Need Estate Planning

By Heidi C. Freeman, J.D. | Volume 2, Issue 1 (January 2014) The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (actually passed on January 1, 2013), permanently increased the gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions to $5 million per person.  In 2014, adjusted for inflation, the amount is actually $5.34 million per person ($10.68 million for a married couple).  Due to the increased exemption amounts and the addition of portability, significantly fewer clients are in need of transfer tax planning.  This article provides ten reasons why clients who do not have a transfer tax concern still have compelling estate planning…