An Unclaimed Treasure Hunt
August 3, 2021
As of July 1st of 2020, the State of Illinois estimated that they were holding on to more than $3.5 Billion worth of assets at the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, and almost all of it is just waiting for the rightful owner to claim it. A law passed in the 1960s set out rules that […]
Important Considerations for a Widow Thinking About Life Insurance
July 27, 2021
Proceeds from a life insurance policy can provide comfort to a loved one’s survivors from both a financial and emotional standpoint. The funds received from life insurance can help alleviate stress for a family as they mourn their loss. As much as the sudden influx of a large sum of money can be a source […]
Working Wealthy – Prioritize Your Estate Plan
July 20, 2021
Maybe we should start calling estate planning something other than an estate plan. For some, it feels like an imposing name or phrase, an estate plan. When I think of an estate, I think of the English countryside with rolling green manicured lawns and a stately mansion nestled in the middle of all the green. […]
How Do I Gift My Carried Interest?
June 22, 2021
After meeting with your personal CFO and financial team, you have determined, as a private equity professional, that gifting carried interest fits within the scope of your long-term financial goals. You have reviewed future cash flows, potential income and estate tax savings, and the amount of estimated growth you are shifting to future generations. The […]
Counselor Cobbler, Do Your Children Have Shoes?
May 18, 2021
There is an old (very old, I think) saying that goes something like this… “the cobbler’s children have no shoes.” The idea, of course, is that the cobbler is so busy making shoes for other people that he doesn’t take time to make sure his children have shoes. In my experience, lawyers can quite often […]
Do You Need Life Insurance for Life?
May 4, 2021
Not everyone needs life insurance. Some of those that do can be handled with simple solutions. Others may be best served by more complex planning. Determining Your Need for Life Insurance Insurance of any kind is simply a transfer of risk. Premiums are payments to shift the financial risk from you to the carrier. Life […]
2 Important Considerations When Inheriting a Retirement Account
April 27, 2021
When a spouse passes away, the list of things the survivor must do may seem endless. In the weeks following their death, there are decisions to be made, paperwork to be completed, and lots to track down. Suppose a surviving spouse is the primary beneficiary of a retirement account (such as a Traditional IRA, Roth […]
Gifting of Carried Interest – A Strategy To Save Estate Taxes
March 30, 2021
One of the common pain points for financial professionals (private equity professionals, investment bankers, and asset managers) that we hear is “I pay too much in taxes.” Most professionals typically are talking about income taxes; however, estate taxes often get overlooked. If you are a private equity professional, one of the great tactics unique to […]
Gifting Stock Options to Family Members – What You Need to Know
March 2, 2021
Stock options have long been an attractive component of executive compensation. Sometimes we are asked if it is possible to transfer employee stock options to family members as part of an estate reduction strategy. It’s an interesting question and possible under certain circumstances. For executives that know they have enough to meet other goals and […]
5 Estate Planning Musts After a Spouse Dies
February 16, 2021
When a spouse passes away, the remaining spouse is often left to grieve the loss of their partner and to wade through a seemingly unending list of things to do. If you’ve lost a close family member, you’ve probably experienced needing to make final arrangements, settling final bills, going through financial records, etc. While it […]
The Widow’s Tax Penalty and How to Plan for it
December 15, 2020
If you are a couple filing your taxes jointly, one of you will likely file as an individual one day. Some statistics say as much as 80% of wives will outlive their husbands. The widow’s “tax penalty” or “tax trap,” as some call it, refers to the situation many surviving spouses face with having to […]
Watching the Sunset – Current Estate Tax Laws vs New Proposals
December 8, 2020
With the presidential election behind us and Joe Biden entering the Oval Office in January, questions and uncertainties still exist regarding his proposed tax package. With the “Blue Wave” of Democratic control over the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives seemingly less likely, major tax reform that was a pillar of Biden’s presidential platform […]