The use of trusts will continue to undergo changes in the current year. Clients need to be informed why planning is essential in these changing times. The purpose of this course is to explore the many beneficial issues of trusts, an essential element in estate planning. This course gives insights and practical pointers concerning trusts of every shape and size after tax reform. Clients will be eager to review their estate plans in light of recent and proposed legislation.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the areas of trusts in connection with disability, charity, life insurance, leveraging gifts, principal residences, and minors
- Understand the role played by a marital deduction trust and a credit shelter bypass trust
- Explain how trusts may protect assets and perpetuate family wealth over multiple generations
Major Topics
- Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation
- Guide to legislative changes and their impact on trust planning
- Introduction to trusts with emphasis on typical provisions
- Revocable living trusts
- Common testamentary trust arrangements -- Bypass trusts, QTIP trusts, and other marital trusts
- Asset protection trusts
- Sophisticated trusts for estate planning and asset transfer -- GRATs, GRUTs, and QPRTs
- Charitable trusts -- Charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, and pooled income funds
- Irrevocable life insurance trusts
- Medicaid trusts: special needs and Miller
- Trusts for minors -- Sections 2503(b) and 2503(c), and other trusts
- Dynasty trusts
- Section 461(l) as applied to trusts and estates
- Trusts to hold S corporation stock
- Special problems of estates and trusts relating to the 3.8-percent tax on investment income and specific solutions
- Increased scrutiny of donor advised funds
