The Impact of One Big Beautiful Bill on Estate Planning
Once Removed Episode 19: The Step-Transaction Doctrine and the Case of Smaldino
Once Removed Episode 18: The Reciprocal Trust Doctrine
Charitable Planning With Guest Stephanie Hood: Navigating Complex Rules and Traps for the Unwary
Once Removed Episode 16: Gift and Estate Tax, Inflation Adjustments for 2024
Once Removed Episode 17: Annual Gifting to Individuals: Options, Opportunities and Pitfalls
Once Removed Episode 12: SLATs and the Case of McKim vs. McKim
Once Removed Episode 11: Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts, or SLATs
Once Removed Episode 10: Trustee Removal and Case Update on Leo Kahn Revocable Trust
(A)ESOP's Fables - The Income and Estate Tax-Free ESOP
The Renoir Spelling Bee
Taking the Sting Out of Death Taxes with Dylan Metzner, Jones & Keller
RETURN TO FOREVER - What Game Shall We Play Today?
To Give or Not to Give: Considerations for Year-End Gifting
INTRODUCING MALTA SPLIT DOLLAR
THE PAPER CHASE
With a Little Help from My Friends
The Greatest Gift: Your Individual + Family Estate Plan
Experienced trusts and estates attorneys consistently observe how proper planning can mean the difference between a thriving legacy and a fragmented enterprise. For family-owned life insurance businesses, the stakes are...more
For ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) whose estates far exceed the 2025 federal lifetime exemption of $13.99 million per person, the stakes for estate and asset protection planning have never been higher-or more...more
The focus of this article illustrates why private placement life insurance (“PPLI”) is the best asset to utilize in the “Buy, Borrow and Die” strategy for high net worth investors including billionaires. After this article,...more
In our previous blog post on the 2025 Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, we highlighted the concept of purpose trusts, a conference topic involving unique planning and charitable opportunities. In this second post of...more
In the Soundtrack of Our Lives, one of the songs that I still get to hear from time to time on Sirius XM, is “Still the One” which was recorded and released by the band Orleans in 1976. I was in the tenth grade just to be...more
Litigation attorneys have had the ability to defer contingency fees since 1994. You are hard pressed to find another profession that has this tax advantage. Hedge fund managers have been running and winning the “Death Race”...more
The use of private placement life insurance (PPLI) by high-net-worth individuals has generated considerable controversy over the years, with proponents arguing that it is a proper use of existing laws that provide many of the...more
On June 6, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Connelly v. United States affecting the valuation of closely held businesses for estate tax purposes. The Court explained that, for purposes of federal...more
There is a common misconception that life insurance benefits are not subject to estate tax. While the proceeds of a life insurance policy are not taxable income to the beneficiaries, they are part of a person’s taxable estate...more
Rising rates spark interest in charitable remainder trusts - If you wish to leave a charitable legacy while generating income during your lifetime, a charitable remainder trust (CRT) may be a viable solution. In addition...more
High net worth families constantly evaluate mechanisms for growing and transferring wealth in a tax-efficient manner. With increasing state and federal individual income tax rates, enacted and anticipated legislative tax...more
The Democrats of the House of Representatives have released a much-anticipated tax plan that would significantly impact the federal estate and gift tax system. Importantly, the House could still amend this legislation and the...more
“Insurance.” The word itself evokes different reactions. The range of emotions expands when we mention “life insurance.” And if we add, trust – “life insurance trust” – you may just stop reading. But don’t. Now is exactly the...more
Rediscover the use of Split Dollar life insurance. It offers tremendous amounts of gift and income tax leverage benefits! #splitdollar #premiumfinance #insurance #estateplanning #financialadvisor ...more
This article focuses on the use of Split Dollar life insurance and the use of the Leveraged Split Dollar RolloutTM technique combining the tax arbitrage of life insurance with the financial arbitrage of Split Dollar life...more
Nowotny On Death and Taxes podcast episode #39 addresses using the planning power of split dollar life insurance for income and estate tax planning benefits. #splitdollar #taxplanning #estateplanning #financialadvisors ...more
Learn how to convert tax deferred dollars into tax-free dollars using Malta Split Dollar....more
With the prospect of estate tax exemptions going down and estate tax rates going up, life insurance is being considered again to cover potential estate taxes. One way to use life insurance as a “hedge” against estate taxes is...more
THE PAPER CHASE - Using the Loan Method of Split Dollar as an alternative to attorney fee deferrals. 1) Defer fees. 2) Once deferred convert fees into tax free income. 3) Reposition in a Structured Settlement Life Insurance...more
Blank Rome’s annual estate and tax planning newsletter addresses certain concepts and techniques that should be considered in 2020 by our clients and friends in California. Perhaps the most important and troublesome...more
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the “2012 Act”) had a profound impact on the transfer tax system. I will briefly describe that system and then, by way of background, set the stage for these changes by summarizing...more