» Estate Planning

Passing On the Family Home to the Next Generation in Ann Arbor

There are nearly half a dozen ways to give a home to your child. And a couple are tax-free. You’re probably well aware that for many families, the family home is the single most important estate asset. Can you imagine your kids having to part with… Read More
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Knowing the Value of Your Business in Ann Arbor

With the day-to-day demands of running their businesses, most owners put off getting a valuation until a sale is imminent. But some are starting to treat the act of valuing their business as an integral part of running it. Has anyone asked you what y… Read More
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The Toils of Joint Tenancy in Ann Arbor

Elderly parents regularly set up bank accounts — checking, savings, certificates of deposit — in joint tenancy with a child …Running around in the background here is a belief that the terms of a will are going to take priority over a joint… Read More
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A Gift You Cannot Return in Ann Arbor

The Brooklyn Museum seemed to have garnered a bonanza in 1932 when it received a large bequest from the estate of Col. Michael Friedsam, president of the elegant retail emporium B. Altman. But eight decades later … the museum potentially faces a he… Read More
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Safeguarding Your Elders: Is It Time To Take Away the Keys in Ann Arbor?

What can you do when a strong minded elder should stop driving but refuses to do so? Remember the freedom you felt as a teenager when you learned to drive? If yes, then you can appreciate how difficult it is for elderly loved ones to relinquish that… Read More
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The Latest Edition of DSM May Lead to Rise in Cognitive Diagnosis in Ann Arbor

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published and periodically updated by the American Psychiatric Association, is one of those documents few laypeople ever read, but many of us are affected by. When you have an elderly loved o… Read More
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Keep a Sharp Eye on Taxes at the State Level in Ann Arbor

…State estate and inheritance taxes have been in constant flux over the last decade. And it’s not just the list of states that has been changing, but in some states, the level at which the tax kicks in has been changing (both up and down). So it… Read More
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Location Inflation: Where You Live Determines Your Health Care Costs in Ann Arbor

Inpatient hospital prices in Los Angeles average 149% of Medicare rates; in Richmond, Va., those rates are 192% of Medicare's prices, according to CSHSC. Ever noticed how prices of certain items can be more or less depending on where you buy the… Read More
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More People Get Option to Convert to Roth IRAs in Ann Arbor

Under the new rules, a Roth conversion would be available to anyone with a traditional 401(k) and an employer who offers a Roth account and conversion. It’s no doubt that the Roth IRA is a favorable option to many people when it comes to retirement… Read More
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Deduction Limitations Impact Wealthy Donors in Ann Arbor

While most people are fixated on tax rate increases adding to their income tax bill in 2013 and beyond, very few people are aware that the Pease limitation reinstatement can add to their income tax bills by phasing out some key itemized deductions. A… Read More
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