Estate planning

There are myriad financial and estate planning issues that must be re-evaluated to ensure tax efficiency and wealth transfer continuity. Here's what advisors should consider.

A landmark Supreme Court ruling ironed out many but not all of the wrinkles in the legal landscape for gay clients.

The landmark Supreme Court decision means same-sex spouses are now entitled to equal protection under the laws of every state, but it's still vital to plan proactively, writes attorney Matthew T. McClintock.

Surviving spouses will require hands-on help from their advisors to get important tasks done -- before and after a loved one's death.

Surviving spouses will require hands-on help from their advisors to get important tasks done -- before and after a loved one's death.

The ranks of the ultrawealthy are graying, and many are trying to figure out what their legacy will be.

Financial advice sometimes includes relationship guidance. Here are a few strategies I use when talking to clients about prenuptial agreements.

"Clients balk at giving even a close relative a POA that is immediately effective, (but) really, if you are going to trust someone with your finances when you’re incapacitated, you should be able to trust them when you know what’s going on."

Aging parents could alleviate stress and possible tension if they share their final wishes with their children -- or at the very least, where their accounts are held.

Aging parents could alleviate stress and possible tension if they share their final wishes with their children -- or at the very least, where their accounts are held.

In the first few days after the 7.9-magnitude earthquake, Fidelity Charitable grants sent $2M to aid victims; Schwab Charitable grants added another $568,000.

Adopting the skills of an anthropologist can empower advisors to help wealthy clients mend troubled family relations before it's too late.

Changes in both demographics and tax laws require a massive rethinking of estate planning strategies. Here are a few of the minefields that planners should avoid.

The U.S. House voted to repeal the 99-year-old U.S. estate tax amid a partisan clash over whether the government should break up concentrated wealth or make it easier to pass along assets to the next generation.

While these documents may seem routine, advisors should check whether clients need to revise existing provisions. Here's what to look for.

The 99-year-old U.S. estate tax would disappear under a bill approved Wednesday by the House Ways and Means Committee.

With estate-tax exemptions higher than they used to be, other issues (like income tax) may now be more important for some clients. Here are several planning issues that deserve a rethink.

Financial advisors often act as general managers for their clients, assembling a team of attorneys, trust companies and others to develop and maintain estate plans. Here are a few questions you should ask of your would-be teammates.

Trusts, a standard tool in the anti-estate tax arsenal, can range from simple to extremely complex. Here are a few options to work with.

The beginning of the year is a great time to handle many estate planning tasks. Use this to-do list with clients to give their plans a review and update.