» Family Business

Succession planning is one of the most important aspects of passing on a farm to future generations, but having a conversation about it is not always easy. Jolene Brown, an Iowa farmer and professional speaker, and Nelson Schoon, certified financial… Read More

Skilled estate planning is essential to the tax-efficient transfer of the family business across the generations. While the majority of family business owners have estate plans, the majority of these plans can be considered dated. Family businesses a… Read More

We love our pets. Nearly two-thirds of all Americans have a pet, and among those who do, nearly 70% have a dog; 50% have a cat; 11% have fish; 8% have birds; and 7% have horses, rodents or reptiles. Nearly 90% of all pet owners consider their pets to… Read More

The Internal Revenue Service is about to toughen the rules on a type of investment vehicle that has been abused by some very wealthy families to avoid millions of dollars in taxes. The wealthy are allowed to use family limited partnerships, family li… Read More

When creating a large trust, especially one for a minor child, it is often a good idea to use the services of a professional trustee. Many banks, both large and small, offer the service. However, there is no guarantee that professional trustees will… Read More

  Small and family business owners have heard many nightmares about similar businesses that have had problems with probate. Many of the stories are true. However, with careful planning most of the problems associated with probate can be avoided.… Read More

Before people can receive many types of federal assistance, they are often required to pass drug tests. Should they also be required to pass drug tests before they can receive a tax free income? One representative appears to think so.     D… Read More

When someone passes away, his or her debts become a part of the estate and must be paid. This is one of the jobs of the executor or personal representative. If you are administering an estate, you need to know how to pay the estate's creditors.… Read More