Many of us who have lived a while have been conditioned to think that estate taxes are the number one issue when creating an estate plan—how do you avoid them; how do you reduce them? But in 2020, the first $11.58 million of a taxable estate is free from...
Alhambra's Bob Williams explains why an Intentionally Defective Trust is a win-win for your estate and your beneficiaries.
Nobody has a crystal ball, but it’s certain that the American landscape is changing and the change is driven by the Millennial generation. Millennials are changing attitudes, workplaces, work ethics, what’s acceptable and what’s not. They’re driven more by technology than relationship. They see things from a different perspective...
If you’ve been gifting money each year to people you love, or using gifting as a planning tool, it’s about to get even better. In 2023, the amount you can give away takes a healthy jump and as long as your generosity doesn’t exceed the limit, you should stay...
When
naming a beneficiary for your IRA the number one choice is a spouse, a child,
or a relative. There’s something in our DNA that wants to make sure our money
stays in the family if possible, and that’s certainly understandable. But if
you’re looking at the bigger picture, the financial planning picture,...
Do I need a will or a trust? That’s the most basic question to begin creating an estate plan. And, let’s face it, you really do want a say in who gets what after your gone. That’s just human nature. Without some kind of legal instructions, you can’t guarantee...
Revocable Living Trusts have become a very common estate planning technique. A Trust can replace a Will because it outlines how your assets are to be distributed. But a Trust can also protect your assets while you’re living and provide a process of caring for you if you become...
Gifting is a great financial planning tool, especially at the end of the year. Alhambra's Bob Williams goes through the basics.
When Spiderman was young, he could do no wrong. He glided from place to place, shooting out webs and taking care of the bad guys. But when he was older, Spiderman’s super powers were not so sharp. His vision was blurry, his hearing was dull, and he had difficulty...
Estate planning. It’s such a noble phrase. It conjures up images of passing on to your loved ones a lifetime of hard work and success—leaving a legacy. But the road to distributing your estate is filled with potholes that may hijack your good intentions.
Pothole # 1. Probate Court.
If you...