SLATs

Estate planning often focuses on where property passes at death, either via a revocable trust or a last will and testament.  In some cases, however, a client may want to make gifts of property during lifetime, or they may be advised to do…

Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (“SLATs”) are ubiquitous in estate planning. As clients plan to use the exemption before it is reduced by half in 2026, the issue of access to SLAT assets is key. Those with sufficient wealth may avoid any…

The Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning is the country’s largest and leading conference for estate planners, attorneys, trust officers, accountants, financial planners, insurance advisors, and wealth management professionals. …

This video clip discusses the reality of SLATs and how to use them successfully.

Asset protection planning remains vital for many if not most clients. For the past few years, clients have been hyper-focused on planning for tax changes that have not happened, practitioners should re-focus clients on the importance of…

On April 27, 2022, the IRS released proposed regulations that follow up on the initial “Anti-Clawback” regulations released in 2019. The proposed regulations provide guidance on how various estate planning strategies may be treated in…

With the federal estate and gift tax exemption poised to drop dramatically in 2026, if not sooner, a popular strategy for using the high exemption before it drops involves creating a trust for the grantor’s spouse.  Such a trust is…

How can practitioners (CPAs, wealth advisers, attorneys, and insurance consultants) assist clients in the operation and administration of irrevocable trusts?  What preliminary steps might be helpful to take to guide clients on proper trust…

Life Insurance is a ubiquitous asset that has unique features and is uniquely (and favorable) treated under many legal systems, including for bankruptcy and for tax purposes. It is also one of the least understood properties with which…

Since at least 1986, when tax brackets for almost all Americans were compressed, and as a result of Rev. Rul. 85-13, which held that grantor trusts effectively did not exist for income tax purposes, grantor trusts have been one of the most…