Brent chats with Evan Unzelman about the many creative uses of charitable remainder trusts. They talk about modifying the trust, selling the income interests, contributing the income interests to new trusts, and using CRTs as IRA beneficiaries.
Brent chats with Sasha Young da Silva about estate and tax planning for Americans who have relocated to beautiful Portugal. They talk about the tax challenges of cross an international border, surprises Americans find in the Portuguese system, and how to make the transition.
Brent chats with Nicole Davis, CPA, MBA — founder of Butler-Davis Tax & Accounting and a Forbes Top 200 CPA — about why today’s accountants can (and should) treat traditional compliance work as a choice, not a requirement. Nicole explains how technology, distributed workforces, great processes, and training clients can help accountants (and any other professional) find more time for high-value advisory work.
Brent chats with Joel Revill about Private Trust Companies (PTCs). They explain the basics of PTCs and their structures. They explain what families would want to use a PTC and how the structure can solve issues of governance and management of family wealth. Finally, they discuss the unique position of PTCs with crypto assets.
Brent talks about what tax planning can happen AFTER the client has already signed the deal to sell a large asset. He talks about the difference between income and estate tax planning. He then discusses terms of the deal, installment method, QSBS, charitable giving, charitable lead annuity trusts, and how discounts may still be available on gifts, even after the ink is dry.
Brent chats about five key questions relating to tariffs and planning in difficult market conditions. He gives answers to the following questions: 1. What’s the real strategy behind these tariffs—and what is the administration hoping to achieve by imposing them now? 2. How might these tariffs and the market’s reaction affect U.S. consumers and investors in the short term? 3. How do currency exchange rates fit into this picture—and why does it matter if the U.S. dollar strengthens or weakens? 4. ...
Brent chats with T.J. Ryan about important terms to make your trusts better. In this first part of that conversation, they discuss the importance of settlor intent, HIPAA releases and incapacity determinations, determining the character of property of the trust as community property or separate property, holding property in lifetime spendthrift trusts with careful distribution provisions, and using special co-trustees strategically (drug testing anyone?).
Brent chats with Steven Zeiger about why life insurance products are so complex. Steven explains the mechanics of the products and how data can reveal with are best for our clients. Steven also shares his methodology and best practices for comparing life insurance options.
Brent chats about how AI can be used in estate planning now. He discusses its current limitations and dangers associated with AI-Emboldened Advisers. He also discusses the future outlook of AI and how advisers can remain relevant.
In this Live recording, Brent chats about the state of the tax bills in Washington, DC, an interesting fiduciary liability case involving foreign accounts, how to plan for an uncertain future, and what gifts volatile markets bring for private wealth transfers.
This is an episode from March 2022, where Brent talks about his history with Ukraine and Russia's invasion. Although we are not almost three years removed, the content seems as relevant today as it was then.
Brent chats about how adding leverage (or debt) to estate planning vehicles can increase the wealth transfer potential. He talks specifically about adding debt in irrevocable grantor trusts, GRATs, and family limited partnerships.
Brent chats about how to move a trust's income tax residence to a State with no income tax. He talks about what trusts can do this and when and why it might make sense. He also explains when the math does not favor that kind of move.
Brent chats about the new administration, and news of tax proposals from Republican tax negotiators. He shares his thoughts on tariffs, lower C corporation tax rates, the SALT deduction, the 199A deduction, opportunity zone funds, and estate tax. He also discusses what some of these changes could mean for taxpayers trying to plan.
Brent chats about how he's thinking about using the 2025 Estate Tax exemption of $13.99 million. He discusses getting ulta-high net worth clients to act, the basic planning frameworks and numbers, and benefits of the full picture.
Brent chats with Ryan Halvorson about how to make smart moves with equity compensation. They talk about different kinds of equity compensation, from RSUs, stock options, to deferred compensation. They then explain what issues to watch out for and how to make smart decisions from a financial planning perspective.
Brent chats with Paul Hood about what the world looks like for buy sell agreements after the US Supreme Court's decision in Connelly. They discuss how, if at all, the decision changes existing law, what business owners should think about for business succession planning, and where the case leaves us going forward.
Brent chats with Toni Ann Kruse about what it means from a practical and tax perspective to expatriate from the United States. They explain the difference in residency, covered expatriates, and significant tax considerations. They also talk about some of the day-to-day challenges of leaving the United States.
Brent chats with Geoff Grenert about how to help client understand complicated ideas as part of their planning. They discuss the challenge of explaining things simply, helping people overcome their own fears, and ultimately helping people make wise decisions. They also talk about their processes for creating and delivering the message their clients need to hear.
Brent explains some of the challenges of planning when there is a non-US citizen spouse. He dives into the estate tax marital deduction, the gift tax marital deduction, Form 3520, income tax recognition events, and expatriation. He also explains how these issues arise at various generational levels of a family.
Brent chats with Matt Hochstetler about the basics of irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs). They explain what these trusts are, why they are useful, Crummey provisions, and creative planning with life insurance.
Brent chats about how to think about the US elections, reminds you the CTA beneficial owner reports are due by December 31, 2024, suggests planning based on the laws as they are not as we wish they would be, and spotting important red flags when there are non-Americans in the family tree.
Brent chats about the basics of Remainder Purchase Marital Trusts (RPMTs). He explains how they work within the gift tax marital deduction rules. Then he compares them to QTIP Trusts and IDGTs (see our prior episodes about those). Finally, Brent walks through the mechanics of RPMTs and how they can be effective wealth transfer tools. […]
Brent chats with Steve Gorin about the Beneficiary Deemed Inheritor's Trust (BDIT). They talk about the structure of these irrevocable trusts, their potential benefits in estate planning, and risks involved in these trusts. they give practical ideas about analyzing whether to use BDITs.
Brent chats with Cody Cassidy about the importance of holding family meetings. They discuss why a meeting can set the tone for a family's financial success. They also share tips and best practices for planning, holding, and following up on those meetings.
Brent chats with Justin Miller about Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs). They explain what these trusts are, how they can be used to save estate taxes, and when to consider one. They also dive into some of the planning challenges and how to select good assets for SLATs.
Brent discusses the US Supreme Court's Loper Bright case. In the case the Supreme Court overturned its own legal doctrine called Chevron deference. Brent talks about the case, what the justices said, and what the case might mean for tax regulation and planning in the future.
Brent chats with Naomita Yadav about all the ways S corporations are problematic. They commiserate about the shareholder limitations, trusts as shareholders, generational wealth planning, and real estate, among other things. They also offer insights and solutions to some of these common issues.
Brent chats with Chris Siegle about Beneficiary Deemed Owner Trusts (BDOTs). They explain how these trusts work and what opportunities they present for planning. They also discuss the potential for future changes in the tax laws, what you might do to plan for those changes, and how BDOTs might fit into that picture.
Brent chats with Toni Ann Kruse about qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs). These trusts are popular in high-interest environments to transfer personal residences among family members. Brent and Toni explain how they work, the income and transfer tax rules, and give planning tips.
