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Recent News & Blog

Recent News & Blog / Estate Planning

  • Don’t procrastinate if you plan to transfer ownership of your life insurance policy

    Generally, the proceeds of your life insurance policy are included in your taxable estate. You can remove them by transferring ownership of the policy, but there’s a catch: If you wait too long, your intentions may be defeated.

  • Buy-sell agreements: A smart business decision also makes estate planning sense

    Do you own a business with one or more individuals?

  • Making lifetime gifts continues to be a smart estate planning strategy

    With the federal gift and estate tax exemption now at a record high $11.58 million for 2020, most estates aren’t taxable. But that doesn’t mean making lifetime gifts isn’t without significant benefits — even if your estate isn’t taxable under the current rules.

  • Oh, no, your original will is missing!

    In a world that’s increasingly paperless, you’re likely becoming accustomed to conducting a variety of transactions digitally. But when it comes to your last will and testament, only an original, signed document will do. The original vs. a photocopy

  • Divorcing? Revise your estate plan

    If you’re going through a divorce, you probably feel a little overwhelmed by all the legal and financial items you must attend to before the marriage termination is final. These tasks can be difficult, but revising your estate plan doesn’t have to be.

  • 5 good reasons to turn down an inheritance

    You may use a qualified disclaimer to refuse a bequest from a loved one. Doing so will cause an asset to bypass your estate and go to the next beneficiary in line. What are the reasons you’d take this action? Here are five reasons:

  • Fortify your assets against creditors with a trust

    You may think of trusts as estate planning tools — vehicles for reducing taxes after your death. While trusts can certainly fill that role, they’re also useful for protecting assets, both now and later.

  • A win-win proposition: A CRT can benefit you and your favorite charity

    Are you a multitasker? If so, you may appreciate an estate planning technique that can convert assets into a stream of lifetime income, provide a current tax deduction and leave the remainder to your favorite charity — all in one fell swoop.

  • Avoid pitfalls when splitting gifts with your spouse

    The annual gift tax exclusion allows you to transfer up to $15,000 per beneficiary gift-tax-free for 2020, without tapping your lifetime gift and estate tax exemption. And you can double the exclusion to $30,000 per beneficiary if you elect to split the gifts with your spouse.

  • Business succession and estate planning: It can be complicated

    Transferring a family business to the next generation requires a delicate balancing act. Estate and succession planning strategies aren’t always compatible, and family members often have conflicting interests.

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