Independent Retirement Account - Defined, What Are The Options?

What is an Independent Retirement Account (aka IRA)? What are the factors in an inherited IRA from a spouse and a non-spouse? What happens when there is more than one qualified beneficiary named in a distribution? What happens when a non-qualified beneficiary is named in a distribution of an IRA?

Certificates of Deposit - What is it?

Define Certificate of Deposit (aka CD) and what is a domestic CD and what are the International CD options such as Offshore CD or Eurodollar Certificates of Deposit. The advantages of International CD are higher interest rates, income tax benefits, anonymity. BNP, Banco Nacional do Panama. London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) discussed.

What Are Living Trusts ?

A living trust is where you entrust certain properties and or funds to either one individual or group of people, using a trust you set up while you are living and in the right state of mind. The person or people become you beneficiaries and you can change your living trust at any point in time that is needed.

Offshore Bank Accounts Pros, Cons, Interest Benefits

Offshore bank accounts have advantages and company benefits from the low interest rates on loans and higher return of investments. Switzerland and Cayman Islands are the most common destinations. Discuss Patriot Act, IRS, Qualifying Intermediary Requirements on US-funded investment income.

An Endowment Will Last Forever

An endowment can be a great way to gift money or property to an institution. It stipulates that the gift be invested and the principal always remain intact. This means that the institution will have a continuous flow of funds from the interest.

Joint Tenancy

Benfits of joint tenancy.

Fraudulent Conveyance, Civil Conspiracy, Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act

What is Fraudulent Conveyance? What is Civil Conspiracy? What does the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act state? Example of Single Member LLC units as shares of ownership in public stocks. Asset protection is placing title of assets in another legal entity. List of common methods of holding assets by individuals and possible legal entities.

Spendthrift Trusts – Checks And Balances For Dysfunctional Beneficiaries

You want to pass on your hard earned assets BUT one of your heirs is an X-factor. Drugs, alcohol, gambling have entered their lives - you're not sure they can act responsibly - here's where the Spendthrift Trust comes in...

Living Trust Confusion

With all the misinformation on the web about living trusts, it's easy to be confused. The truth is that living trusts are good for some people and not for others. Only by educating yourself can you know if a living trust is for you.

Estate - Signed, Sealed, Delivered - It's Theirs

My last few articles have focused on various end-of-life issues that were made very real to me due my mother-in-law's recent death. In this article, we'll discuss the simple steps you can take that will make dividing your personal possessions easier on your family.

Division Without Divisiveness

You've probably heard the horror stories - how sometimes families are torn apart by hard feelings stemming from the inequitable division of estates or even from the perception that the division was not fair. As an outside observer, it might be easy to dismiss such cases as pointless, petty, and avoidable. But how easy it is for all of us to repeat the same mistakes that led to these tragic consequences!

Good Intentions Could Lead to Family Feuds

Good Intentions Could Lead to Family Feuds

Estate - How To Legally Avoid Taxes On Gifts And Inheritances

Nobody likes to pay taxes. If done incorrectly, though, the way you inherit an asset can result in you needlessly paying tens of thousands of dollars in taxes. Knowing some simple rules will reduce your tax bill and allow you to keep more of what you inherit. And it will also keep you from creating tax headaches for loved ones to whom you wish to gift assets.