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Saving for college

Parents who are building a college fund for their child or children have two tax-advantaged alternatives, the 529 plan and the Coverdell Education Savings Account (CESA).

Migration patterns

When people decide to relocate, how do they choose a destination? Key factors will include job opportunities, family situations, and retirement. According to a recent study from the Tax Foundation, income tax rates are also a factor.

Enforcing a living will

Lynne Chesley signed a living will in 2013 that stated she did not want to have her life extended by artificial means and designated her sister, Amy, as her proxy for making medical decisions should Lynne become incapacitated.

Supersize 401(k) contributions

For those who failed to save for their retirement early in their careers, the tax code has long permitted age-based “catch-up” contributions to IRAs and 401(k). 

A broke millionaire

Chris Brown, a successful Australian stock trader, left his entire $12 million estate in trust for his daughter, Claire. However, the trust included two stipulations. 

Loans without expectation of repayment are gifts

Mary was in the habit of advancing funds to her children as loans, then forgiving a portion of such loans each year in the amount of the gift tax annual exclusion.

The IRA turns 50

Once upon a time, there was no such thing as a tax break for individual retirement savings. That was before 1974, before the passage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Estate planning for blended families

Estate planning is important for everyone, and the issues for blended families can be especially knotty. How can one be confident that one’s wishes for everyone will be implemented?

Family farms and the estate tax

Merle Parks left the bulk of his estate, which included a farm, to his nephew Ronald. Merle died on September 19, 2003.

The Biltmore estate

George W. Vanderbilt, the grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, acquired thousands of acres of land in North Carolina, where he built a mansion from 1889 to 1895.

An unexpected relative

In 2018, Loch David Crane, a California resident, died without having made a will.

Crypto con

Details are sketchy, but it seems that a man in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has lost some $9.2 million in an online romance scam.

Inflation, stocks, and bonds

In 89 of the last 97 years, inflation was lower than the total return in the stock and bonds markets.

The lost will

Having a will is an important step for every responsible person who owns property. Making certain that the will is available after one’s death is the next important step, because a will won’t do much good if it can’t be found.

How much compensation is “reasonable”?

Clary Hood is an American success story. Following his father's footsteps in the land grading business. After creating his own business, Hood faces serious tax issues.

When should you consider a living trust

Living trusts are flexible, versatile, asset-management tools that can offer long-range value in a variety of financial and family circumstances. But they aren't for everyone.

IRAs for 2021 and 2022

In 2019 Congress revisited the rules for qualified retirement plans and IRA's, with an eye toward boosting retirement savings. Learn about key IRA boundaries.

FAQs about trust

More and more affluent families are exploring the unique financial management and financial protection advantages of trusts. Read about our answers to FAQ.

Challenging year

"The most challenging year taxpayers and tax professionals have ever experienced." That is how the National Taxpayer Advocate, characterized the 2021 tax filing year.

Ask a trust officer

Read our answers to questions about a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder asking for advice on dealing with inflation.

Five Benefits of Working With a Financial Planner

One important area in which some people may be overconfident is financial management. There is so much more to financial planning than setting some goals and pinching some pennies. Here are five basic benefits that may come from working with a financial planner to create an organized financial plan.

Where’s Dad’s Password List?

One important new aspect of estate planning concerns “digital assets,” a form of property that only recently has come into existence. Digital assets are electronic ones and zeros; that is, information inscribed on a tangible medium or stored in an electronic or other medium and which is retrievable in perceivable form.

Why Bond Prices Go DOWN When Interest Rates Go UP

Simple math can explain this. Here is an example: You have a bond with a face value of $1,000 that pays 5% every year, or $50. When the bond matures you receive $1,000. Now imagine that interest rates have jumped to 7%, so a new $1,000 bond pays $70 every year. What happens to the value of your 5% bond?

Insurance and Divorce

Beneficiary designations —for life insurance or retirement plans, for example — are an often overlooked aspect of estate planning. A change in life circumstances may suggest a need to change those beneficiaries.

“Do-it-yourself” Fails in Woman’s Estate Plan

Anne Aldrich wrote her will on an “E-Z Legal Form” ... It was duly signed, witnessed, legal, and unambiguous. However, it did not contain a “residuary clause” for disposing of property.

Good Offense is Best Defense in Will Contests

When Dad leaves everything to the child who visited most in the nursing home, a will challenge may be in the works by family members who feel cheated out of their legacy.