The Estate Planner – January/February 2018

Here’s a brief glance at what you’ll find in the January/February 2018 issue of The Estate Planner.
 
Buy-sell agreements: Handle with care
If a person owns an interest in a family-owned or other closely held business, a buy-sell agreement should be a key component of his or her estate plan. These agreements specify whether — and under what circumstances — owners’ interests may be transferred, ensuring that the business stays in the family and meeting other important estate and succession planning goals. This article details the advantages and tax implications of a buy-sell agreement. It also includes a sidebar that explains the differences between a shareholder agreement and a buy-sell agreement.
 
Estate planning when time is short
No one wants to contemplate their own mortality or that of a loved one. It’s one of the reasons people tend to procrastinate when it comes to estate planning. And for people whose life expectancies are short — because they’re terminally ill or advanced in age — planning can be even more difficult. This article details planning steps to take that can offer a family financial peace of mind.
 
International estate planning: If you’re a non-U.S. citizen, the rules are different
Traditional estate planning strategies generally are based on the assumption that all family members involved are U.S. citizens. However, if a family member is a noncitizen, special rules apply that require additional planning. This article examines the estate tax rules applicable for families that include non-U.S. citizens.
 
Estate Planning Red Flag: You’re transferring a vehicle to your revocable trust
A living trust isn’t effective unless its funded. Trust owners transfer ownership of assets to the trust and designate it as beneficiary of retirement accounts or insurance policies. But can owners transfer ownership of automobiles or other vehicles to the trust? This brief article examines the pitfalls of doing so.