In my last column, I commented on how the fiscal cliff legislation made the estate and gift tax exemption (the amount that can be gifted during life or transferred upon death without any estate or gift tax) permanently high at $5,000,000 adjusted for inflation. I mentioned how this much higher permanent exemption made the majority […]

KRASA LAW is pleased to announce that Kyle will be speaking in an upcoming Strafford live phone/web seminar, "Estate Planning Update for 2013" scheduled for Wednesday, February 6, 10:00 am to 11:30 am PST.  The new fiscal cliff legislation dramatically changes estate planning in several ways. Asset protection planning will now be a critical component […]

Congress provided some dramatic theatre over the New Year’s holiday, eventually passing the American Taxpayer Relief Act, more commonly known as the “fiscal cliff legislation.” The legislation made significant “permanent” changes with regard to the estate tax that fundamentally change many longstanding traditional approaches to estate planning, especially the common “A/B Trust” for married couples. […]

December of 2012 was a very busy month for many estate planning attorneys and certified public accountants who deal with trusts and estates. With the Estate Tax / Gift Tax exemption expected to drop from $5,120,000 in 2012 to $1,000,000 in 2013, many clients decided to make gifts of substantial assets in 2012 in order […]

As I often mention to my clients, how a beneficiary inherits from your estate is just as important as to what a beneficiary inherits. This is particularly true if the beneficiary has special needs and is receiving – or is likely to receive in the future – “means-tested” public benefits. These kinds of benefits are […]

“My situation is very simple,” estate planning attorneys often hear, “I don’t need a complicated plan.” Although most people realize that they need an estate plan to make sure that their finances are handled during periods of disability and that their wishes are carried out after death, there is a common propensity to want to […]

My parents were educators. My mother taught at Bay View Elementary School in Monterey for over twenty-five years and my father was a school principal and administrator in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. For a period of time, I thought of following in their footsteps with my own twist by becoming a college English […]

When I was a kid, my absolute favorite stories were from the Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel.  I am so thrilled that my two-year-old son inherited my passion for the stories about the two special friends.  In fact, this year we decided to dress up as Frog and Toad for Halloween (my son […]

Earlier this month, a poll of the 10,500 e-subscribers of the Carmel Pine Cone was conducted asking respondents to vote on what businesses should win "Golden Pine Cone" awards for being the best in their fields.  The winners were announced in the October 26-November 1, 2012 edition of the Carmel Pine Cone. We are pleased […]

The Estate and Gift Tax laws are scheduled to dramatically change on January 1, 2013 unless Congress acts.  Many advisors are recommending that clients make plans now to take advantage of a special and historic opportunity.  However, with all planning opportunities, there are cons as well as pros. To learn about the changes in the […]