» Taxes

Seems like the subject of estate taxes becomes part of every politician's election promises, and today's election environment is no different. Even though we are not really expecting significant changes in that area, estate taxes have chang… Read More

In February of 1959, rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed when a plane Holly chartered at the last minute crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa. The event later became known as "t… Read More

If you plan on leaving a sizable amount of money to your heirs, it's understandable to be concerned about estate taxes. After all, the top Federal estate tax rate of 40% could take a nasty bite out of a multi-million dollar estate, and that'… Read More

Estate planning tends to get pushed to the back burner, as more pressing financial tasks take center stage. But neglecting estate planning is a huge mistake. Estate planning may involve hiring an attorney or financial advisor, but plenty of people ma… Read More

Opponents of the estate tax normally emphasize the effect it can have on small business owners and family farmers. A new report, however, suggests that those are not the groups behind the push to repeal the tax. Earlier this year, the House of Repres… Read More

The overwhelming majority of estates are not large enough to require payment of the federal estate tax and are therefore not required to file the estate tax forms. For most of them, it is wise not to waste money on any professional preparation fees f… Read More

One of the trusts created by retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu was quietly dissolved earlier this year in the wake of a family feud.   Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end racism and corruption in South Africa. He is gener… Read More

The Giving Pledge, created by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, has received a tremendous amount of positive coverage as it encourages the wealthy to donate to charity. However, some argue that it also has a hidden cost that potentially harms the general… Read More