Tag: estate planning

McManus Cited in “College Financing Q&A” from the Wall Street Journal

April 8, 2015 - Media Clips

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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.

Trusts & Estates, WealthManagement.com Publishes Guest Article from McManus on Coordination of Income Tax and Estate Planning

April 2, 2015 - Media Clips

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Combine Income Tax Preparation and Estate Planning

Coordination is key

Apr 1, 2015 John McManus Trusts & Estates

When tackling a jigsaw puzzle, you’ve likely taken the “divide and conquer” approach, separating the larger puzzle into more manageable sections. Eventually, you bring the different areas of focus together to put the finishing touches on the full image.

Wealth management is the same. Estate planning emphasizes an array of complex matters spanning death taxes, asset protection, incapacity, guardianship and family missions. Compartmentalizing can be helpful, but advisors must remember to bring the pieces of the puzzle back together in the end. It’s critical that strategies to maximize the value of your clients’ estates are coordinated with their retirement, financial and income tax planning.

McManus Weighs in on IRS’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for ThinkAdvisor

March 5, 2015 - Media Clips

Photo credit: Lendingmemo

Photo credit: Lendingmemo

The IRS recently issued its list of “Dirty Dozen” tax schemes, an annual release that kicks off tax season. Michael Fischer, contributor for ThinkAdvisor, took a closer look at the 12 scams and tapped McManus & Associates Founder John O. McManus for his guidance on two that specifically impact high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs): “Stashing cash offshore” and “Abusive tax shelters”.

Firm’s Tax Experts Hold Conference Call on Income Tax Preparation

February 3, 2015 - Conference Call

McManus & Associates can prepare your Income Tax Returns. For many years, the firm has been completing tax returns for clients and has learned that keeping income tax planning under the same roof enables a more refined level of specificity in estate planning for your family. Want to hear more about how you can benefit from McManus & Associates’ Income Tax Planning Practice? Listen to the firm’s recent conference call with clients (link below) and contact us at 908-898-0100/212-753-9000.

LISTEN HERE: “Preparing Your Tax Returns”

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McManus and Client Contribute Expertise and Color to Wall Street Journal Feature Story

October 28, 2014 - Media Clips

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As part of our continuing effort towards thought leadership, McManus & Associates recently presented The Wall Street Journal with our impressions on the newest estate planning paradigm. The firm’s ideas helped shape a comprehensive, informative cover story in the Weekend Investor by well-versed Reporter Laura Saunders. The article, titled “The New Rules of Estate Planning,” also highlighted the Grevatt Family, one of our clients, for whom we employed a smart strategy in today’s environment.

Forbes Discusses Death Taxes with John O. McManus

September 18, 2014 - Media Clips

forbes-logo-pngEarly this year, bills A1281 and S1311 were introduced in New Jersey to “eliminate transfer inheritance tax and increase the filing threshold and applicable exclusion amounts under New Jersey estate tax in accordance with provisions of federal tax law.” NJ A397 was also introduced and, if passed, would repeal the New Jersey estate tax.

Top 10 Ways to Protect Children Under 18 and Over 18, Stateside and Abroad

September 11, 2014 - Conference Call, Press Releases

Even for children who have newly become legal adults, parents need to be empowered to make decisions to help protect them in times of need. Laying out important considerations for families to discuss before and after children turn 18, McManus & Associates – top-rated, Tri-State-Area-based trusts and estates law firm – today released the newest edition of its educational focus series. The discussion, “Top 10 Ways to Protect Children Under 18 and Over 18, Stateside and Abroad,” identifies questions parents should evaluate, from who should be named as local representatives on a health care proxy for minors to whether a prenuptial agreement is appropriate if an adult child is soon getting married.

DailyFinance Shares How McManus Helped Clients Avoid Estate Planning Nightmares

August 21, 2014 - Media Clips

Daily FinanceEstate planning nightmares don’t just exist in dreams. Writing for DailyFinance, Reporter Michele Lerner relays several real-life horror stories that arose—and certainly have been replicated in similar forms far and wide—due to families neglecting to have detailed conversations about inheritance plans. “According to the 2014 Intra-Family Generational Finance Study by Fidelity Investments,” Lerner writes, “64 percent of parents older than 55 who have at least $100,000 in investable assets and their adult children over 30 aren’t on the same page about when the right time is to have conversations about estate planning.”

New Jersey Law Journal Features Article by McManus in Special Supplement on “Wealth Management”

August 2, 2014 - Media Clips

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On July 28th, New Jersey Law Journal published a special supplement on “Wealth Management.” The featured section includes a co-authored guest article from McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus and Mark Cortazzo, senior partner at MACRO Consulting Group. The piece, titled “How Estate Planning Can Unintentionally Wreck a Retirement Plan,” outlines steps that can be taken to protect clients when complex investment vehicles like variable annuities are involved in the estate planning process.