Our regularly updated blog discusses a variety of issues related to business, tax, and estate planning in California. Learn why an estate plan is necessary regardless of age or income, what steps you can take to reduce your tax liability and protect your assets, how to ensure your business remains on a solid legal foundation, and much more.
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US Supreme Court Says IRAs Fair Game for DebtsThe U.S. Supreme Court ruled that certain money inherited from individual retirement accounts can be taken by creditors to cover the debts of people in bankruptcy proceedings. In a unanimous ruling written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court said inherited IRA money not received from a spouse isn't protected in...
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Is Your Corporate Shield Intact?While many small business owners seek legal counsel to assist them with the formation of their corporation, they may not understand or otherwise overlook the benefits of having continued legal counsel to assist with the operation of their corporation – specifically the importance of maintaining corporate formalities. Failure to draft...
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Same-Sex Marriages Create New Strategies for Tax PlanningNow that the Supreme Court has issued its landmark ruling to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), same-sex couples should be hammering out joint financial plans, much like those that heterosexual pairs create when they marry. The plus side is that same-sex married couples nationwide are now afforded benefits...
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Business Owners: Protect Yourself and Your Family With a Buy-Sell Agreement!As a business owner, you really need to plan for the continuation or sale of your business in the event of death, disability, retirement or withdrawal from the business. This planning is needed to protect your business partners, family and even the business itself. You should consider a Buy-Sell Agreement...
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Planning for Digital AssetsLegislation addressing estate planning in the digital realm is headed for the Delaware General Assembly. A new bill from Rep. Darryl Scott (D-Dover) would require companies like Google to hand over control of users accounts to a trusted person outlined in their will. Companies would be required to give estate...
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Levels of Asset ProtectionEach person's situation is unique and an asset protection plan must be custom-tailed to address the particular risks, assets and family needs or other objectives or concerns. While a custom plan is needed, the following is a list of the general levels of protection that we should all consider: Level...
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Update on the IRA 'One Rollover a Year' RuleOn the heels of a controversial U.S. Tax Court decision, the IRS announced plans to revise its current guidance on IRA rollovers. Starting January 1, 2015, the IRS will strictly apply the one-rollover-per-year rule on an aggregate basis, rather than on an IRA-by-IRA basis. This announcement could have important --...
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What Can Impact My Estate Planning?From probate and ownership division to the taxing arm of Uncle Sam, here are some ideas that can influence what happens to your belongings. Remember, everything you own is considered part of your estate when you die. To grasp the importance of planning for the distribution of your worldly goods,...
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Why Business Owners Don't Plan for Succession—and Why it's CriticalMany business owners procrastinate putting a well-conceived succession plan in place. The reasons are understandable. It can be difficult to plan for your replacement and deal with your mortality. Here are five of the top reasons why business owners don't have an exit strategy, along with the reasons why it's...
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Squeeze More Out of a Company SEPIf you want a retirement plan for your small company or self-employed business -- but you don't want to be buried in paperwork -- consider a simplified employee pension plan or SEP. Among the appealing advantages: 1. SEPs are set up by simply filling out a brief form. 2. Annual...
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Estate Planning: Check Your Beneficiary DesignationsWith today's relatively generous $5.34 million federal estate tax exemption, you may think estate planning is only a concern for the rich. Wrong! Regardless of your income or net worth, there's one estate planning move you should probably make right now: Check the beneficiary designations for your life insurance policies,...
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Selling Your Home? Tax and Other ConsiderationsThe prime residential real estate selling season is in full swing -- and 2014 might be a good time to sell, depending on your situation. So, while prospective sellers are making their properties look like model homes in the hopes of raking in a nice profit, this is a good...