Incorporating a trust into your estate plan can help secure your hard-earned assets and ensure they are distributed according to your wishes. However, creating a trust involves several details that can lead to problems later if overlooked. Here are some common...
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What is a Totten trust’s role in estate planning?
People who are creating an estate plan have to think about every asset they own so they can determine who to give each one to. Every asset you own should be included in the estate plan, but some assets have special considerations. Your bank accounts are one of the...
The multiple benefits of a generation-skipping trust
We’ve all heard the saying, “The only things certain in life are death and taxes.” But what’s truly unfortunate is there are taxes after death! However, there are some trusts that can reduce the tax liability for your beneficiaries. What is a generation-skipping...
Creating a trust to protect beneficiaries in difficult situations
Those who benefit from intergenerational wealth or achieve career success may have ownership over valuable resources. They need to plan carefully to pass those resources on to their chosen beneficiaries. Many people can achieve their legacy goals with a will, but...
Special needs trusts: Why siblings shouldn’t always be in control
When you have an adult child with special needs, it’s not unusual to worry about their future after you’re gone. That’s why a lot of parents in that situation create special needs trusts to provide for their comfort and care. When you create a trust, of course, you...
Using a trust to protect those inheriting from an estate
An inheritance can be positive for a beneficiary or heir. What they receive after a loved one dies can help them pay off financial obligations like student loans or make important moves that they previously struggled to complete, such as buying a home or finishing a...
Preventing trust fund waste
A trust is a legal arrangement that allows grantors to distribute assets to beneficiaries. A trust is managed by a trustee, who holds assets on behalf of the grantor. Many trusts are used to avoid probate, estate taxes and challenges. Another benefit of a trust is to...
The role of a letter of intent in your special needs planning
Establishing a special needs trust (SNT) is crucial to helping ensure that a child with a serious long-term disability or medical condition receives the best possible care and quality of life while you’re alive and after you’re gone. These trusts can be established...
What are “red flags” that a trustee is problematic?
Trusts are set up to preserve assets and protect beneficiaries – and trustees serve a critical function in both those areas. So what happens if you don’t trust a trustee? In certain situations, a trustee’s behavior can and should raise “red flags” that warrant further...
Understanding how special needs trusts work
A special needs trust (which is also called a “supplemental needs trust”) is a particular kind of irrevocable trust that is designed to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities who rely on government programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and...