Blog

Understanding the New Inherited IRA Rules
Inheriting an IRA can be a significant financial event, and recent changes to the IRS rules make it crucial for beneficiaries to understand their obligations. These new regulations could significantly impact your inheritance in New York or elsewhere. I’ll explain the fundamental changes and how they could affect your financial…

Grounds to Contest a Will: A Comprehensive Guide
At our firm, we help guide clients through the complex legal process following a loved one’s death. One of the more common questions we receive concerns the grounds on which a will can be contested. Contesting a will is serious and often emotional, as it involves questioning the deceased’s final…

How an ILIT Can Help Protect Your Family’s Wealth
I often recommend Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) to clients looking to protect their family’s wealth. Life insurance is a powerful estate planning tool, but without proper planning, it can become vulnerable to creditors or unnecessarily inflate your taxable estate. Let’s explore how an ILIT can help safeguard your family’s…

What is a Step-Up in Basis?
A step-up in basis may be one of an estate planner’s best tools. To truly understand how beneficial this tool is, it’s essential to first grasp the concept of basis. In simple terms, basis refers to what you initially paid for an asset. On the other hand, the amount realized…

The Grantor: Unsung Hero of Estate Planning
Imagine you’re at a family reunion, and your eccentric Uncle Bob starts discussing how he’s become a “Grantor.” Your cousin Sarah rolls her eyes, assuming it’s just another of Bob’s quirky hobbies. But little does she know that Uncle Bob might be the most intelligent person at the picnic table.…

How Do I Fund My Trust?
Regarding estate planning, one of the most essential tools available to individuals is a trust. Think of a trust as a box with an instruction manual. The instruction manual controls what’s in the box and where it goes at the time of your passing. But here’s the catch – if…