Tag: year-end planning

Conference Call: Top 10 Planning Opportunities to Consider Before 2021

McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus recently held a conference call with clients to provide timely information on how the new Biden administration may impact estate planning. During the call, McManus highlighted opportunities and offered guidance on how to respond to these possible changes. Listen to the recording and find a list of topics that were covered below.

1.   Utilize your lifetime exemptions – Use it or lose it: these exemptions are set to sunset after 2025 or sooner by legislative action (possibly retroactive to January 1, 2021).

2.   Lock in now the lower Estate and Gift transfer tax rates.

3.   Sell appreciated assets prior to the potential increase in Capital Gains tax rates.

4.   Avoid the potential future limitations on Grantor retained Annuity Trusts.

5.   Sell appreciated assets to a defective Grantor Trust using the current low federal interest rate.

6.   Make intra-family loans to take advantage of today’s low interest rate environment.

7.   Create a Charitable Lead Annuity Trust if you are charity minded.

8.   Take advantage of valuation discounting before it is eliminated.

9.   Take advantage of Spousal Access Trusts so that you can continue to have access to the transferred funds.

10.Review your year-end philanthropic planning especially for gifting low basis stock.

Don’t miss these opportunities to protect your assets and build wealth. Contact McManus & Associates now to review your Estate Plan and ensure it reflects your current personal and financial goals: 908-898-0100. 

InvestmentNews Publishes Slideshow Based on McManus’s Year-End Tax Advice

6 tax strategies for year-end planning

New U.S. tax laws should inspire some Americans to pursue year-end tax strategies that will seek to maximize their wealth, according to John McManus, founding principal of McManus & Associates. He said these strategies make sense given the new tax framework, as well as estate planning recommendations. Click through the different strategies and listen to Mr. McManus discuss these strategies here.

Give it away sooner rather than later

Given that the increased estate tax exemption is temporary, high-net-worth clients worried about future estate taxes should make $15,000 (or $30,000 for a married couple) annual exclusion gifts to children and grandchildren into flexible irrevocable trusts before Dec. 31. Right after Jan. 1, give the gift again.

Offsetting gains due to growth

If a client sold appreciated investments or a business in 2018, that will spark capital gains taxes, so offset those by donating to a family-controlled charitable vehicle like a private foundation or charitable remainder trust before Dec. 31.

Think before you sell

Given the new limitation on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction for federal income taxes, clients should think before they sell appreciated investments or a business in the next few years because those sales will lead to unusually high capital gains taxes. But if they establish a non-grantor trust in Delaware or Nevada to store assets prior to a liquidity event, they can avoid state capital gains tax.

Investment diversification with insurance?

With the SALT deduction now constrained, think more about income tax exposure on investments. Consider whole life insurance, which continues to appreciate in value without resulting in income taxes due, and represents an efficient component of a diversified portfolio.

Tax benefits of insurance

High-net-worth families who will still have state and federal estate tax exposure should be thinking about how to utilize insurance. Permanent insurance coverage owned by an irrevocable life insurance trust should be a component of smart estate plans.

Creative solutions

Here’s a three-generation plan: A grandparent could loan significant funds to their child to acquire a life insurance policy for their grandchild. That loan can be structured to be dramatically discounted upon the grandparent’s death, thus cutting state and federal estate taxes. This arrangement allows the insurance policy to be free of taxes all the way down to the grandchild.

See the InvestmentNews slideshow with photos here.

Conference Call: 10 Tax Planning To-Dos to Check Off Your List before the End of 2018

With only one month left in 2018, time is running out to finish your wealth management to-dos. We’ve made your list, but it’s time to check it twice.

Today, McManus & Associates held a call with clients to provide guidance on the items below. Click to hear the half-hour discussion led by the firm’s Founding Principal John O. McManus:

 

1.  FREELY GIVE: Make annual exclusion gifts up to $15,000 for individuals and $30,000 for married couples, per chosen loved one.

2.  REAP (LOSSES TO OFFSET) WHAT YOU’VE SOWED: Harvest losses to offset capital gains in your securities portfolio.

3.  MIND YOUR HEALTH: Take advantage of this year’s lower threshold for Medical Expenses.

4.  USE A TAX RATE IN ITS INFANCY: Review your children’s portfolio income for application of the revised Kiddie Tax.

5. GIVE THOUGHT TO GIVING: Bunch your charitable deductions in the same year. The deduction for cash donations to public charities has increased to 60% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income.

6.   FUEL INVESTMENT VEHICLES: Establish and fund qualified plan contributions.

7.  TAKE A BREAK TO RECONSIDER BREAK-UPS: If planning to execute a divorce or separation agreement, you may want to do so before year-end. Otherwise, moving forward, the payer of alimony will no longer get a deduction on his or her tax return, and the recipient will no longer have to include the alimony as taxable income.

8.  DON’T WAIT TO COMPENSATE (YOURSELF):

An owner of an S Corp must pay themselves a reasonable compensation (what someone in a similar job would be paid). Therefore, make sure you pay yourself a salary before year- end.

9.  RESERVE TIME TO REVIEW YOUR WITHHOLDING:

The 2017 Tax Act lowered the tax rates and changed the tax bracket income ranges. Therefore, now is the time to do a “check-up” to see if your current tax withholding will be sufficient for next year’s income.

10.  MAKE A MOVE: Make distributions of income from trust accounts and estate accounts to lower their income tax liability.

Conference Call: 6 Strategies for Smart Year-End Planning under New Tax Laws

Before we know it, the calendar will turn to 2019. Today, McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus held a conference call with clients to impart insight on year-end tax strategies, in light of the new tax laws, to implement by December 31st. McManus also covered annual end-of-year essentials. Listen to a recording of the discussion by clicking below:

 

 

1.    TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A LIMITED-TIME OPPORTUNITY: Since the estate tax was not repealed at the end of last year and the increased estate tax exemption is temporary, what can high-net worth families do to minimize future estate tax?
2.    GET SET TO OFFSET: If you’ve already sold appreciated investments or a business in 2018 and will incur significant capital gains taxes, what can you do to enjoy a deduction and aid in offsetting the gain?
3.    PLAN TO SAVE: The drastic limitation on the State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction for Federal income tax purposes means that those who anticipate selling appreciated investments or a business in the next few years will experience unusually high capital gains taxes—but what can you do so that State capital gains taxes will not be imposed?
4.    ADD TO YOUR INCOME TAX TOOLBOX: In spite of the marginal reduction of the Federal income tax rates, now that the Federal deduction on SALT has been significantly constrained, we will all have even more income tax exposure on investments. Can life insurance function as an income tax planning solution?
5.    ENSURE YOU’RE UTILIZING INSURANCE: High-net worth families will continue to have State and Federal estate tax exposure, so what must remain an essential component of any well-constructed estate plan?
6.    THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX: For those who have Estate Tax vulnerabilities but are elderly or in poor health, the acquisition of a life insurance policy may be uneconomical or impossible for those individuals, but how can life insurance reduce State and Federal Estate Tax while also creating wealth for future generations?

 

ADDITIONAL YEAR-END ESSENTIALS

 

THE ABCs OF ESTATE PLANNING PROTECTIONS: Regardless of tax law changes, it’s important to go back to the basics with estate planning on an annual basis. Proper year-end planning should always consider the following:
·     Incapacity concerns
·     The dangers of passing away without a will
·     Probate pitfalls
·     Insurance as creditor-protection planning
·     Foreign reporting requirements
·     U.S. estate tax exposure for non-resident aliens
·     Business succession issues

Conference Call: Year-End Boot Camp

There are a limited number of days left in 2017. McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus recently discussed imperatives before year-end for the firm’s clients, in light of significant current events, concerns, and considerations, and amidst a changing tax and economic environment. Listen to the call below, as well as review the list of topics that are covered. 

 

1.Tax Reform –  How will potential estate tax repeal impact you?

2. Estate Freezes – You have exhausted much of your lifetime gift exemption; how can a GRAT aid in shifting wealth in a tax-effective manner?

3. Low Interest Rates and the Market – How does the continued low-interest rate environment support the transfer of investments to the next generation?

4. Leveraging Existing Trusts – How can you deploy previously gifted assets to participate in other estate tax minimization strategies?

5. Family Limited Partnerships – What actions should you be taking in light of the new Partnership Audit rules?

6. Estate Tax – Can estate tax be eliminated if you have taken full advantage of all wealth transfer opportunities but still have a sizable net worth?

7. Asset Protection – Are you confident in your protections against exposure to personal and professional liability?

8. Life Insurance – How does premium financing of life insurance by a family member or bank shift wealth and minimize tax?

9. Planning with Basis – Can you take advantage of upstream gifting to an older family member to minimize capital gains tax?

10. Compliance – Are you certain that you have met the IRS requirements for reporting gifts that you have made in 2016 and prior to 2016?

Conference Call: Top 10 Tax Planning Tasks to Complete before the End of 2016 in Light of President-Elect Trump’s Proposals

In light of Donald Trump’s election and his pre-election platform to reduce marginal income tax rates, there are several planning strategies that should be considered as part of your year-end planning. Today, McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus held a conference call with clients to discuss the 10 items listed below.

LISTEN HERE: “Top 10 Tax Planning Tasks to Complete before the End of 2016 in Light of President-Elect Trump’s Proposals”

McManus Speaks to Year-End Tax Planning Strategies for Investment News

Investment News

 

Reporter Greg Iacurci tackled year-end tax planning strategies in a recent piece for Investment News. To help identify where the focus of advisers should be, Iacurci spoke with John O. McManus, estate planning attorney and founder of McManus & Associates.

The Investment News story, “Year-end tax planning strategies advisers should be considering,” encourages exploration of end-of-year tax considerations now, with just two months left in 2015. As Iacurci points out, “tax rules are largely unchanged,” so “tactics employed last year will more than likely still be relevant.”

Top 9 Estate Planning Tasks to Complete before Year-End

The holiday season represents a window of opportunity for growing and preserving wealth. McManus & Associates today outlined the “Top 9 Estate Planning Tasks to Complete before Year-End”. As part of the firm’s educational focus series, Founding Principal and top AV-rated Attorney John O. McManus recently discussed time-sensitive recommendations for building your nest egg and reducing your check to Uncle Sam for Tax Year 2014.