Firm News & Articles

Estate planning is a crucial aspect of financial management and is not just a tool for the ultra-high net worth seeking to secure their family’s wealth and legacy, but also for families that are charitably inclined, looking to minimize taxes or distribute assets efficiently and equally. In this blog, we explore key estate planning tools such as trusts, wills, and charitable giving, and how they can help you achieve your financial and legacy goals.

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Estate planning is a vital component of financial planning, especially for individuals and families looking to preserve wealth for future generations. One tool that can be instrumental in achieving this goal is an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT). An ILIT not only helps reduce estate taxes but also ensures that your heirs have sufficient liquidity to meet financial obligations. Let’s delve into how ILITs work and their benefits in the context of estate planning.

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For high-net-worth individuals, life insurance is far more than a safety net—it’s a versatile financial tool that can address some of the most pressing concerns around wealth preservation, estate taxes, and intergenerational legacy planning. When incorporated thoughtfully into a financial plan, life insurance can offer unique benefits, including liquidity during critical moments, tax efficiencies, and a structured pathway to ensure your legacy endures. Let’s explore the key ways life insurance can be leveraged for estate tax planning, legacy building, and liquidity management.

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For high-net-worth individuals, life insurance is far more than a safety net—it’s a versatile financial tool that can address some of the most pressing concerns around wealth preservation, estate taxes, and intergenerational legacy planning. When incorporated thoughtfully into a financial plan, life insurance can offer unique benefits, including liquidity during critical moments, tax efficiencies, and a structured pathway to ensure your legacy endures. Let’s explore the key ways life insurance can be leveraged for estate tax planning, legacy building, and liquidity management.

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For high earners, retirement planning goes beyond saving enough to cover basic living expenses. It’s about ensuring that your retirement years are as comfortable and fulfilling as the life you’ve built during your working years. Maintaining your lifestyle in retirement requires strategic planning, leveraging advanced financial tools, and optimizing every resource available. In this blog, we’ll explore some key strategies—including Roth conversions, deferred compensation plans, and maximizing Social Security benefits—to help high earners achieve financial security and peace of mind in retirement.

 

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Many employers offer their employees the option to obtain life insurance coverage as part of their benefits package. The convenience of skipping a medical exam or the benefit of having your employer offset some of the premium is an appealing one, but is this the best choice?

While group life insurance can be accessible, it may not always be the most cost-effective or comprehensive solution. Deciding whether to purchase life insurance through your employer requires evaluating your health status, understanding the cost differences between group and retail life insurance, and determining which coverage better suits your unique needs.​

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A Power of Attorney (POA) is an essential legal document that grants someone the authority to make decisions on your behalf. These decisions can be financial, legal, or related to healthcare. While it’s often associated with aging or illness, the truth is that many people, regardless of age or health, can benefit from having a POA in place. In this blog, we’ll explore why a POA is valuable, who should get one, when it might be an appropriate time to do so, and what other legal documents should be considered.

 

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When planning for retirement, one of the biggest challenges retirees face is market volatility. Sudden downturns in the stock market can severely impact a retiree’s investment portfolio, especially if withdrawals are being made during these periods of decline. However, retirees who include life insurance as a non-correlated asset in their financial strategy can smooth out their income streams and preserve their asset base during market downturns. Here’s how life insurance can play an integral role in stabilizing retirement income.​

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As individuals navigate their financial journeys, especially in the years leading up to retirement, it’s crucial to explore every avenue for creating income streams and optimizing financial flexibility. One such strategy that often flies under the radar is utilizing 72(t) withdrawals from retirement accounts. While primarily designed for retirees, 72(t) withdrawals can also be a valuable tool for those not yet in retirement, offering a way to access retirement funds before reaching the traditional retirement age without incurring early withdrawal penalties.

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As planning professionals, we’ve seen firsthand the importance of careful and deliberate estate planning when it comes to the execution of gifting transactions. Waiting until the last minute to effect complex or even seemingly simple gifting transactions can lead to unintended consequences that can undermine even the best-intentioned estate plans. ​

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