All estate plans share one underlying goal: create a bulletproof plan that puts their beneficiaries in the best possible position. Irrevocable life insurance trusts, known as ILITs, further this goal by protecting your life insurance from the hands of creditors during your lifetime, and exempting it from your estate and reducing your potential estate tax liability. ILITs have many benefits, and virtually no drawbacks, making them a favored and potent estate planning tool. Put…

On 3 January 2009, the bitcoin network came into existence. Since then bitcoin, and other internet currencies have grown in popularity and credibility. Cryptocurrencies can provide a secure and universal form of payment. They can be stored digitally and can operate without the use of a middleman or bank. This article will cover the basics of cryptocurrency, how the blockchain works, and how cryptocurrencies can fit into your estate plan. What is the Blockchain?…

What is the SECURE Act? Signed into law on Dec. 20, 2019, the SECURE Act drastically changes the estate planning landscape and brings significant changes to the tax rules governing the inheritance of individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The most notable change brought by the SECURE Act is the elimination of the “stretch rule” for most non-spouse beneficiaries. Previously, beneficiaries of an inherited IRA could withdraw from inherited retirement accounts over their lifetime – called stretching…

Asset protection is a relatively recent area of the law, it only began to develop a little over four decades ago. Many of the asset protection solutions available today, such as offshore asset protection trusts began in the late 1980s, pioneered by famed Colorado attorney Barry Engel. Today, it is impossible to think about the history of asset protection without considering his advances in this field. Barry Engel was born in 1954 in the…

Revocable Trusts Irrevocable Trusts Assets are considered owned by the grantor Assets are no longer owned by the grantor Change trust document as desired Difficult or impossible to amend trust Can change the trustee Can’t change the trustee or beneficiary Avoids probate court Avoids probate court Trust assets are protected Beneficiaries pays income taxes The difference between Revocable Trusts and Irrevocable Trusts All living trusts can be revocable or irrevocable. A living trust is created…

  The Costs of Long-Term Care According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the majority of Americans will rely on Medicaid for long-term care at some point during their lives. Medicaid is the only government program that assists in paying for long term care for the elderly and disabled. It is a federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources, regardless of age.…

If you are a pet owner, you know the unconditional love that our furry friends provide. The sheer joy we experience when they interact with us each day is a feeling that’s difficult to match. It is only natural to want our pets to be loved and cared for even if they outlive us. What happens if my pet outlives me? Pets are a wonderful source of companionship, a Pet Trust can help ensure they…