Bankrate, which has more than 2.75 million readers, recently published a story based on McManus & Associates’ “Same-sex marriage tax and estate planning tips.” As the story points out, thousands of gay and lesbian couples are celebrating wedding anniversaries this year and, this month, another momentous date. June 26 was the day last year that the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal throughout the United States.
Conference Call: Tax and Estate Planning Considerations for Same-Sex Couples
Nearly a year ago, on June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, delivering a historic decision in favor of State recognition for same-sex marriage. Exactly two years prior to this decision, in United States v. Windsor, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined marriage for federal purposes as existing only between one man and one woman.
“In its most basic terms, recognition of same-sex marriage equates to the simple fact that a spouse is now a spouse, irrespective of gender, in the eyes of the law,” commented McManus. “Today, there are opportunities and protections within reach for same-sex couples that were unavailable during most of American history.”
Recently, during a conference call with clients, McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus shed light on the far-reaching effects of these Supreme Court decisions.
LISTEN HERE for details: “Top 10 Tax and Estate Planning Considerations for Same-Sex Couples”
McManus Teams Up with Forbes to Shed Light on Elder Financial Abuse
Forbes Writer Ashlea Ebeling recently brought a very important topic to light with the help of John O. McManus and one of his clients: elder financial abuse. In her new article “Inside A Lottery Scam,” Ebeling tells the harrowing story of a McManus & Associates client, who – in her 90’s – was targeted strategically and relentlessly by unscrupulous phone fraud. From the piece:
“There was a man who was very friendly, very charming.” So begins the tale of a socialite widow from New Jersey horse country who lost nearly $1 million in a lottery scam. Call her Penny. She’s ashamed. “I can’t believe I was so ignorant; nobody can condemn me more than I do myself,” she told me on the line with her lawyer, John O. McManus of New Providence, N.J. “What’s funny is I’m a penny picker-upper; when I think of the amount of money that I gave away to an unknown person, it’s unbelievable,” she says.
How did the scammer convince Penny to part with a lot more than just pennies? “If she sent money, the caller said, she would have a chance to win big.” She started sending checks in hopes of hitting the sweepstakes jackpot, which would give her more money to make a big impact on the community by setting up a charitable foundation to honor her husband and carry on their family tradition of giving.
McManus Pens Letter to the Editor Responding to New York Times Story on Privilege
Recently, the New York Times ran a story by Nelson D. Schwartz, titled “In an Age of Privilege, Not Everyone Is in the Same Boat (A1, April 24).” John O. McManus – McManus & Associates’ founding principal who grew up in the Bronx but has worked with high net worth families for 25 years – penned the Letter to the Editor below in response:
Bankrate Relays Investment Ideas from McManus in Feature Slideshow
Bankrate, which has more than 2.75 million readers, recently turned to McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus for advice on investments and IRAs. His thoughts are included in the publication’s feature slideshow, “Traditional or Roth IRA: Find out which IRA is better-suited for high-return investments.” From the slideshow:
Pay upfront, watch Roth explode later
Do you benefit from having an extra-long time horizon? Then going full throttle in the Roth IRA is apropos, says John O. McManus, founding principal of McManus & Associates in New York City.
“If you can take a long-term view, opt for a Roth IRA and take an aggressive approach with asset allocation and investing,” he says. “Roth IRAs buy you a lot more time to allow the market to recover, absent the mandatory distributions of traditional IRAs. Create a self-directed Roth IRA and pour significant capital in it to build horsepower. Then smartly pursue alternative investments to generate the biggest returns,” he says.
“Private equity and real estate are the 2 best areas where real leverage can be achieved with a Roth IRA. The idea is to pay your taxes up front, then really watch returns from your investments explode.”
Conference Call: Foreign Bank Account Reporting Missteps
To address our clients’ burgeoning international interests, from investments to regular travel, inheritances, and family members overseas, McManus & Associates created an International Practice Group. These professionals are devoted to keeping our clients compliant by meeting proper filing requirements, including those outlined under the Bank Secrecy Act.
The Bank Secrecy Act gave the Department of Treasury the authority to collect information from US persons who have a financial interest in, or signatory authority over, accounts maintained with financial institutions located outside of the US. This provision of the Bank Secrecy Act requires that, if the aggregate maximum value of the foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year, you are required to report the accounts annually to the Department of Treasury by electronically filing a Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).
Currently, for the 2015 tax year, owners of foreign accounts must e-file by June 30th, with no extensions permissible. However, beginning with the 2016 tax year, the FBAR will be due on April 15th, and the taxpayer will be allowed to request an additional six months to file (October 15th deadline).
LISTEN HERE for details: “8 Foreign Bank Account Reporting Missteps”
3 Last-Minute Income Tax Strategies
Photo credit: Lendingmemo
Scrambling as we approach April 18th? Here are three last-minute tax strategies to harness for proper management of the deadline.
If you need additional time to file your personal income tax return, file an extension:
The deadline to file your tax return is April 18, 2016 (April 19, 2016, if you live in Maine or Massachusetts).
If you cannot file your return on time, apply by the due date of the return for an extension. You can receive an automatic six-month extension for your personal income tax return if you file Form 4868 by the tax filing deadline. (If you are mailing the extension, you should mail it certified with a return receipt, so that you have proof of the mailing date.) The extension gives you until October 17, 2016 to file your 2015 return.
This extension is for filing only and does not allow you more time, without penalty, to pay your tax liability for 2015. Although the extension will be allowed without payment, you will be subject to interest charges and possible late payment penalties on 2015 taxes not paid by April 18th (or April 19th in Maine or Massachusetts).
If the amount paid with Form 4868, plus withholding and estimated tax payments for 2015, are less than 90% of the amount due, you will be subject to a late payment penalty (one-half of 1% of the unpaid tax per month).
McManus Weighs in on “Ways the Rich Waste Their Money” for GOBankingRates
Today GOBankingRates, which has nearly 350,000 readers, launched an interesting slideshow, “21 Ways the Rich Waste Their Money.” For #6 and #7 on the list, journalist Lia Sestric shared two examples of wasteful spending flagged by John O. McManus, founding principal of McManus & Associates.
Photo: McManus with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus with Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Many Millionaires Are Down on the Stock Market – Should You Be?
Last Friday, Brian O’Connell penned a piece for TheStreet on what millionaires being down on the stock market means for regular investors. Here are thoughts from John O. McManus, founding principal of McManus & Associates:
With the wealthy keeping a tight rein on their dollars, the market remains flat to down. Because millionaires feel poorer, they’re spending less on creature comforts, which can cause the economy to slow. We saw this in the Great Recession – fewer vacations and pricey dinners, less frequently cut lawns and cleaned pools, and fewer wallets opened for cars, high-end fashion, jewelry and more. When millionaires are soured on the market, regular investors should view this as a red flag, because the rich tend to spend the most on guidance from top-notch advisors and can afford to be patient and invest for the long-haul. If millionaires are pulling out of the market or not investing, there’s no reason regular investors should do the opposite. That said, many millionaires may still be invested in the market, because they can afford to take a long view.
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