Blog - "Altman Speaks"

In Honor of Veterans Day

Today we honor the millions of men and women who have served in our great country's military. Our freedoms are a daily reminder of their sacrifice and we are incredibly thankful for their service. - The Altman Team

The IRS on the Michael Jackson Estate: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

As FORBES magazine so aptly put it, Michael Jackson's Estate has told the IRS to “Beat It” when it comes to payment of estate taxes. In response, the IRS has responded by alleging that the Estate is a “Smooth Criminal.” What is clear is that the estate appears no closer to closing now than it did […]

An Estate Plan is Only as Good as Its Implementation!

There is a running joke in our office (spurred on by Gary himself), when anytime there is a question regarding the terms of a document, the answer is “read the document”. Estate planning at its core is very simple...create goals, reduce them to writing and make sure that writing is in a format acceptable under […]

In Honor of Patriots' Day

On the 12th anniversary of the September 11th attacks in Washington, DC, New York and Pennsylvania, we continue to reflect on the innocent lives and the sense of security that were lost. Those tragedies continue to have a profound impact on this country and, subsequently, the work that we do. We are humbled by and […]

Transferring Ownership of a Life Insurance Policy: The Taxable Distribution Trap

Most people own their own life insurance policy and name the appropriate individual or trust as a beneficiary. However, there are situations where the insured wants someone else – or some other entity – to own his life insurance policy. Can ownership of life insurance be transferred? Sure! But there is a serious tax trap […]

2013 Income Tax Thresholds: New phase-out’s for 2013 may apply to you!

New phase-out’s for 2013 that may apply to you. These changes will result in a larger tax liability for those who exceed the threshold amounts noted in this PDF: 2013 Income Tax Thresholds

Strings Attached – Beneficiary Liability, Even a Decade Later

Beneficiaries may not realize that their inheritance comes with strings attached by the IRS. For example, if an estate does not pay the tax it owes, the federal government automatically has a personal lien against any beneficiary who receives property from the estate. IRC § 6324(a). This is true whether or not the beneficiary is […]

"Ex-Spouse Recovers Life Insurance" - Don't Let This Be Your Last Headline!

We have daily conversations with clients that present so many different planning challenges. One of the best things about our job as estate planners is to be able to meet so many different people and work with them to help them positively plan for their goals. Everyone is different and thus everyone’s estate plan is […]

Teachings from The Will of James Gandolfini Part II: In a World Flooded by Social Media and Reality TV, Help Your Clients Preserve What Little Privacy They Have Left!

On July 16, 2013, we published a blog entitled “The Will of James Gandolfini: Bad Tax Planning or Good Listening?” Since that blog, we have continued to monitor the commentary that has been written regarding the estate plan of actor, James Gandolfini. The analysis and criticism has been overwhelming with regard to James Gandolfini’s estate plan. […]

Estate Planning: A Product or a Process?

I am often reminded that too many attorneys treat estate planning as a product and not a process. They present clients with a cookie-cutter estate plan that comes in a fancy binder and includes dozens of pages of legal jargon, none of which is probably even read or understood. Furthermore, there is little or no […]

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Recent Posts

In Honor of Veterans Day

The IRS on the Michael Jackson Estate: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

An Estate Plan is Only as Good as Its Implementation!

In Honor of Patriots' Day

Transferring Ownership of a Life Insurance Policy: The Taxable Distribution Trap

2013 Income Tax Thresholds: New phase-out’s for 2013 may apply to you!

Strings Attached – Beneficiary Liability, Even a Decade Later

"Ex-Spouse Recovers Life Insurance" - Don't Let This Be Your Last Headline!

Teachings from The Will of James Gandolfini Part II: In a World Flooded by Social Media and Reality TV, Help Your Clients Preserve What Little Privacy They Have Left!

Estate Planning: A Product or a Process?

« Previous 1 … 46 47 48 49 50 … 77 Next »