An IRA may not be transferred to a trust without causing the whole IRA to be taxed. The “I” in IRA stands for “individual” — it must be owned by a single person. In practice, there is no need to transfer an IRA to a trust since IRA’s avoid probate…
Articles Posted in Financial Planning
The Secure Act and Your IRA
The Secure Act governs distributions from IRA’s and other retirement plans. After the death of the account holder, most named beneficiaries are required to take the funds out over ten years. While the IRS has not finalized the regulations, the safest approach is to take minimum distributions for the first…
Remember to Learn Your Parent’s Finance Plans
The unfortunate truth is that everyone’s parents will ultimately pass away even though the average life expectancy is increasing. While some of our parents pass away while we are children, other people lose their parents when they are adults. Even though this is a grim reality, it is best to…
Taking the Time to Begin (And Complete) Your Estate Plan
One unanticipated effect of the Covid-19 pandemic is it made many people realize that time is short. If you delay doing something too long, the risk exists that you might never have the chance to do it. Many people are following this advice when it comes to things like changing…
Social Security in 2022 and Beyond
The Social Security Program is 86 years old and has become a fundamental aspect of how many aging people pay for expenses. Despite its vast importance, social security is full of challenges and weaknesses. Estate planning professionals once referred to a “three-legged stool” for retirement planning in this country. The…
What Should You Do After a Loved One Passes Away?
When a person passes away, survivors almost always remember the need to take several important actions. Often, some of these actions are time-sensitive and must be performed within a narrow time window. Given the substantial emotional repercussion of losing a loved one, the process is often overwhelming and can even…
Taking the Time to Review or Create an Estate Plan
Each year, it’s important for anyone interested in planning for the future of their assets to either create or revise their estate plan. Taking the time and including loved ones in estate planning discussions is the best thing that you can do to avoid conflict or estate planning disagreements. Estate…
Avoiding Undesirable Estate Planning Situations
TV shows often depict unpleasant estate planning situations that can arise including a deceased person leaving assets to a former spouse. While these situations often do not occur in the way depicted on TV or film including the recent Netflix film I Care A Lot, a former spouse could end…
The Advantage of Utilizing SPA Trusts in Your Estate Plan
In times of economic uncertainty, estate plans can benefit substantially from flexibility. As the country both continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as face the challenges brought on by new strains of COVID-19, it’s a good idea to consider how to make your estate plan flexible. Not…
Considering Medicare Advantage Plan Alternative
Approximately, 26.9 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans as of January 2022. While many people are content with their plans, not everyone is. Individuals have between January 1, 2022, to the end of March 2022 to make revisions to their Advantage Plan. During this period, a person can…