DIY Wills and The Importance of Wills for The Young Family
Young families need wills. But, the legal profession has an admitted problem—the use of attorneys is expensive and can also be time consuming. It is also one of the many…
The Donor Advised Fund
Donor Advised Funds have gained in popularity in recent years. They provide an easy way to facilitate charitable giving, they can increase tax savings, and they can be creatively employed…
Oil and Mineral Rights
Property rights are often considered a “bundle of sticks” where a person can own varying interests in land. The person can own the entire bundle – called “fee simple.” Or,…
The Intersection of Estate and Financial Planning
Sometimes the concept of financial planning is considered distinct from the more laborious and esoteric task of estate planning. The financial plan is the “low hanging fruit” that is usually…
The Invisible Hand Steering Education: The Education Trust
Of course, there are many options available to pay for the education of a loved one. There are direct gifts, state-sponsored 529 plans, and educational savings accounts, to name a…
2A90HFY Senior grandparents playing with grandchildren and having fun with family
The Private Family Foundation
Financially successful individuals often contemplate the highest and best use of their assets. In some cases, those same individuals have decided that the natural objects of their bounty (i.e. the…
The Challenges of Timeshare Ownership
We have all been there. We take a glamorous vacation to Florida or Hawaii or Arizona or Mexico, and we are presented with the deal of a lifetime: a timeshare.…
The Community Property Agreement
Property owned by a spouse does not automatically transfer to the surviving spouse at death. Instead, something more is needed in the estate plan to accomplish this feat. In all…
Keep the Family Farm – The Washington Farm Deduction
Should a person gift the farm before death to avoid the complexity of probate and the estate tax? Probably not. The family farm occupies a unique position in Washington state…
Step-Up in Tax Basis at Death
At death, there is a little-known tax benefit that the federal government provides. It is an adjustment to tax basis and it can have a profound effect on the taxation…
