Estate Planning
An estate plan makes sure your wishes — not the courts — decide what happens to what you have built. These articles cover wills and trusts, inherited accounts, and how your estate plan fits the rest of your financial picture.
The Step-Up in Cost Basis: One of the Most Powerful Tax Benefits Most Families Have Never Heard Of
Inherited assets are not all taxed the same way. Here is how the step-up in cost basis works, which assets qualify, and how understanding it can shape your estate planning decisions.
I Inherited Money. What Should I Do First? A 12-Step Financial Checklist
A practical 12-step checklist for what to do after receiving an inheritance, from securing documents and understanding the tax rules to reviewing your own estate plan.
Inherited IRA RMD Rules: The 10-Year Rule for Adult Children
Inherited an IRA from a parent? Learn how the 10-year rule for an inherited IRA and potential annual RMDs may apply, plus the facts to confirm before planning withdrawals.
How Inherited IRA Withdrawals Can Trigger IRMAA Medicare Surcharges
Delaying non-spouse inherited IRA withdrawals to the final years can spike your income and trigger costly Medicare IRMAA surcharges. Spreading withdrawals across the 10-year window may help you stay under those thresholds.
Why Trusts Aren't Always the Best Fit for Your Estate
A trust is a powerful estate planning tool, but it isn't right for everyone. Here is how trusts work, who truly needs one, and when a simpler plan wins.
Estate Planning Cost: Is the Price Really Worth It?
Worried estate planning costs too much? Here is what drives the price, what you actually get, and why delaying often costs your family far more.
Inheriting an IRA: Rules Every Adult Child Should Know
Inheriting an IRA as an adult child means the 10-year rule, taxes, and careful timing. Learn the key rules so you keep more of what you inherit.
RMD Rules When Inheriting an IRA as a Spouse Explained
Inheriting an IRA as a spouse gives you options no other heir gets. Learn the RMD rules, the choices involved, and how the timing affects your taxes.