Peace, Love, & Crummey Powers

It was the 1960s—bellbottoms, Beatles, and flower power ruled the day while America's youth challenged authority at every turn. But while Jimi Hendrix was setting guitars ablaze, California businessman Clifford D. Crummey was quietly funding his family's life insurance trust with annual Christmas gifts—until the IRS claimed those gifts didn't qualify for tax exclusion. Embodying the rebellious spirit of his times, Crummey fought back and won a 1968 court battle that revolutionized wealth transfer forever. Today, "Crummey Powers" help sophisticated families move millions tax-free through dynasty trusts, proving that sometimes the most powerful estate planning tools come from the most unexpected places.

Welcome to the summer of Peace, Love, and Crummey Powers—where one man's fight created a legacy that continues to stick it to the IRS, one trust gift at a time.