John O. McManus recently presented on Estate Planning Basics at the Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE). Sharing compelling client examples and colorful analogies to aid understanding, McManus discussed Wills, Revocable Living Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney, Health Care Proxies, and Living Wills.
In addition to learning about essential estate planning vehicles, watch video of the presentation below for answers to important questions related to estate tax planning and planning for incapacity.
Washington Post Reporter Jonnelle Marte recently interviewed McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus on financial goals that people should aim to achieve in their 40s. Jonnelle’s piece, “5 Money Milestones to Hit While You’re in Your 40s,” was published last week and re-published by Tulsa World on Sunday.
McManus’ insight informs two milestones from the article: one related to wills & estate planning and the other life insurance. From the story, here’s Milestone #4:
4. Update your will and estate plan: A few things may have changed since you last reviewed your will. You might have had another child, gotten divorced or been newly married. These changes would make it time to update your will to make sure your home, savings and other assets will go to the appropriate people after you die, Turner says. “If your ex-spouse is the beneficiary for your retirement plan you want to change that,” Turner says, adding that people should double check the beneficiaries for your 401(k) and life insurance policies.
The rules for how a person’s estate will be broken up after death vary from state to state, says Peter Creedon, a financial adviser in Mount Sinai, N.Y. For instance, some states may pass assets on to a domestic partner while other states will not, Creedon says, making the will the best method for explaining who should inherit assets. Talk to a lawyer or financial adviser about getting the documents in order. People with simple situations may get by using online services such as LegalZoom, which will create a will for prices starting at $69.
Parents should name guardians and put together a plan for what should happen to their children if they died, says John O. McManus, a trusts and estates lawyer in New York City. Those instructions can include guidelines for medical treatment and preferences on what type of school they would like their child to attend, he says. Parents who have amassed a sizeable amount of savings — think millions — may want to create a trust that would help them pass the money on to their children in a tax efficient way, he says.
The Leonard Lopate Show covers issues of interest to New Yorkers, from contemporary art to current events. It’s in the NPR family and is produced by WNYC.
Yesterday, the radio show explored the extremely important topic “How to Access the Best Healthcare” with guest Leslie Michelson, author of The Patient’s Playbook: How to Save Your Life and the Lives of Those You Love. The episode, which focused on how to be a smarter health care consumer, was introduced with the fact that 400,000 Americans die every year from preventable medical errors. And many others “receive less than optimal care, even though it’s readily available to them and their insurance will cover it.” With priceless advice on how to avoid being a victim of this crisis, Michelson discussed how to choose the right doctor, coordinate the best care, and make good medical decisions.
John O. McManus, who has decades of experience ensuring that families are prepared and protected when faced with dire medical situations, called in during the show to add a key observation: It’s critical to name people who will step in and act on your behalf, if you are ever incapacitated. Without choosing representatives to serve as our advocates, we’re left at the mercy of the medical community.
The rise in capital gains tax rates and the higher federal estate tax exemption have shifted the estate planning paradigm. Across the nation, long-term capital gains tax rates now range from 25% to 33%, with the combination of the top federal, state and local rates, along with the Medicare surtax. This demands a fresh look at current planning strategies.
When assets are included in an estate, they are subject to estate tax, but the assets enjoy a step-up in basis for income-tax purposes. Gains tax can then be avoided. However, if there is no estate tax because the gross estate assets are below the estate tax exemption amount, then it may make sense to keep assets inside the estate.
Many estate planning attorneys have spent the first half of their careers getting assets out of their clients’ estates, but now they might spend the second half of their careers getting assets back into their clients’ estates (for those individual estates under $5.43MM or joint estates under about $11MM).
As part of McManus & Associates’ Educational Conference Call series, John O. McManus this month examined how to shift gears in light of new, unique opportunities. We invite you to listen to the recording to find detailed information on the Top 10 issues and planning opportunities related to capital gains tax.
Colleen Moriarty, a seasoned health and lifestyle writer and a staff writer for Addiction.com, recently tapped McManus & Associates for advice on important legal documents that should be put in place for children who are already 18 or will soon be of legal age before they head off to school. Her article, “Help Your Child Stay Safe at College”, is part of a series called Off to College 2015: The First Six Weeks.
Moriarty’s article opens by shedding light on the importance of planning ahead to protect college-bound children, because, as McManus points out:
“If an accident, emergency, mental health crisis or trouble with substance abuse should arise after your son or daughter’s 18th birthday, you have little or no legal right to step in without legal documents that explicitly give you that authority.”
Owning artwork is not only a cultural indulgence, but the sophisticated (and the lucky) possess artwork as an investment that can provide a handsome return. Auction houses, most recently Christie’s, have seen record-setting bids as fine art wrestles to take its position as an asset class equal to equities, commodities, and other hard assets. In light of the increase in capital gains tax combined with the collector’s desire to reduce the imposition of income tax and estate tax, the field is ripe for sophisticated planning.
As part of it Educational Conference Call series, John O. McManus this month discussed strategies to addresses the hard and soft issues surrounding the ownership and transfer of art. We invite you to listen to the recording to find detailed information on the Top 10 issues with owning and gifting artwork that follows, whether you’re an artist, dealer, investor or collector.
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox is known as The Money Coach®; she’s a personal finance expert, television and radio personality, and the author of 12 books, including a New York Times bestseller. She recently reached out to John McManus for guidance on how to avoid a quandary like the one her family faced when three loved ones passed away in short order.
Writing for Get Rich Slowly, a personal finance publication with over 750,000 regular readers, The Money Coach® shares her heartbreaking story, which includes a nightmare custody proceeding after her sister passed away.
“YIKES! My child is leaving for college in two months.”
The summer before a child enters his or her freshman year of college is filled with excitement and consternation, happiness and remorse, confidence and concern. McGraw Hill Education notes that 25 percent of college students drop out of their first year due to not being academically, emotionally, or financially prepared for college life and adulthood. Now is your chance to help your child in his or her final preparation.
Because Family Mission Planning is a cornerstone of McManus & Associates’ approach to estate planning, the firm has compiled a list of ideas and research that can help families stay on track with their individual mission statements as college-bound children leave the nest. Here are 10 pieces of advice that you may not have gathered from your high school guidance office, selected universities or friends with adult children, but that we think might hold an equal amount of wisdom:
Paul Sullivan writes the “Wealth Matters” column for the New York Times, which shares insights on the mindset and strategies of the affluent. Recently, McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus chatted with Sullivan about the decisions that adult children who are expected to take over a family business face and connected Paul with his client Sharon Madison, a remarkable woman who successfully navigated the challenge of family business succession.
Sullivan’s article leads with Madison’s dedication that kept United Building Maintenance, the business that her father started, on its successful path after he became ill.
In February, Andrea Coombes wrote an article, titled “The Tax-Smart Way to Draw ‘529’ Funds”, about education tax benefits for the Wall Street Journal’s Investing in Funds report. The piece generated a number of follow-up questions from readers. Here’s one that came across Coombes’ desk:
“Before he died, my father contributed to a 529 on behalf of my daughter [his granddaughter]. Need anything be done now to ensure that my daughter is able to use these funds for tuition?”
To help answer this question, Coombes turned to John O. McManus, top-rated tax and estate planning lawyer who founded McManus & Associates. The firm offers income tax planning among its services.
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