The history of the qualified charitable distribution (QCD) feels a lot like the 'Friends' relationship of Rachel and Ross. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. There has been enough disruption in the availability of this tax-saving opportunity that it has been hard to remember if it is on or off. Good news...it's on. The brief history goes [...]
High income families faced with high annual taxes are often looking for ways to reduce their taxes or save additional dollars in tax-efficient ways. Unfortunately, these well-intentioned pursuits often result in irrational behaviors (such as permitting the government to shortchange your retirement savings) or unfavorable outcomes (such as paying more taxes than you would have [...]
One of the most challenging roles of parenting is finding the proper balance between protecting children too much and not enough. In the early years, we cover electrical outlets, protect household edges with soft bumpers, and spend hours analyzing all the safety features of car seats. Parental protection then evolves to monitoring what our children [...]
President Obama unveiled the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget last Tuesday (February 9th) which included several unexpected first-time proposals in addition to many crackdowns and “loophole closures” that have become annually recurring proposals. Experts contend there is little likelihood of any substantial tax change in the final year of the President’s term. However, we could see [...]
A married couple pays a local attorney to draw up estate documents. The attorney drafts wills and lays out the well-conceived plan for testamentary trusts to be created upon death, distributing assets just as the husband and wife desire. The couple signs the documents with appropriate witnesses and goes home relieved that their estate plan is [...]
First time flyers on Southwest Airlines are easy to spot at the boarding gate. They’re notably confused, trying to figure out the purpose of the stainless steel posts with numbers on them and what they should do with the unusual B22 zone assignment on their boarding pass. Someone eventually helps them find their spot in line and [...]
