Clients believe that estate planning is only for the wealthy who will owe Federal estate tax. This isn't the case. Perhaps as a result of the 2020 pandemic, estate planning has a renewed focus. All practitioners should be familiar with the vernacular, acronyms and techniques. Estate planning involves personal issues that affect everyone, whether or not the estate tax will apply. Learn strategies to pass assets to future generations; provide education benefits; distribute retirement benefits, and provide a charitable legacy.
Learning Objectives
- Identify latest developments in estate planning
- Determine appropriate strategies and beneficiary designations to maximize after-tax assets
- Recognize issues that require updates to an existing plan, and traps for the unwary
Major Topics
- The Numbers: Exemptions, exclusions and discounts
- Portability and step-up in basis
- Asset valuation
- Deductions: Marital, charitable, transmission and administration
- Retirement plan assets, annuities and life insurance
- Trust funding and administration
