ESTATE PLANNING NEWS

The most recent additions to this page appear below. You may also use the subject index to find older articles. To find all the articles from a particular issue of Insight, the National Academies' estate planning newsletter, you may wish to use the Insight index which has links to the full contents of each issue.

Will Do - Just what can a Will do? Well, of course it says “who gets what,” but there are some other things it can do which you may no have considered. You Mean I Have To Take This Money Now? - Even if you’re still working, you’re required to take distributions from your IRA after turning 70 1/2. However, with proper estate and financial planning, you can make your money continue to work for you.

Estate Planning Audio Files Available Listen to audio files from a recent seminar on Estate Planning From Your Spouse’s Perspective. The seminar was organized by the Academies Estate-based Philanthropy program. Click here for links to all available files from the seminar. (Requires the RealPlayer.)

Art, With Strings Attached - When making a bequest of art to a museum, you may inadvertently reduce your estate tax deduction by placing too many restrictions on the gift.

Sharing Deed Is Not Child’s Play - Adding your child’s name to the deed of your home is usually not a good idea, even if you expect the home to significantly increase in value.

Accounting After Death - Several tax returns may need to be filed after an individual’s death. If you’re charged with these duties (as executor), here are some tips to help you administer the estate properly.

Early Retirement Comes Back to Haunt You - Rules regulating IRA withdrawals may cause some early retirees to deplete their retirement savings much faster than they intended.

Pet Trust Funds - Many states allow pet owners to set up trust funds to take care of Rex or Fluffy after the owner has died, just as if the animals were minor children.

Roth IRA Q&A - Questions and answers about the confusing rules regulating conversions from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Despite the complexity, some people may still benefit from a conversion.

Liberty, Equality, . . . and the Death Tax - This BusinessWeek commentary provides a history of the estate tax, touching on entrepreneurial initiative, trusts, and our convoluted revenue code.

Top Ten Charitable Planning Mistakes - Is your planner guilty of making one of these mistakes? Read on and know what to watch out for.

Donations Through Credit Card Rebate Program Deductible - The IRS has ruled that an individual will be allowed a charitable contribution deduction when rebates from his credit card purchases are donated to a qualified charity and other conditions are met.

*Previous articles are available in the subject index.

To find all the articles from a particular issue of Insight, you may wish to use the Insight index.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us at 202.334.2431 or by email, giving@nationalacademies.org.