WealthPoint Wisdom

Happy New Year.  We begin this year as we ended the last – approaching another cliff.  To start the year off right, Andy Friedman appeared yesterday on CNBC to discuss the ramifications of the fiscal cliff compromise.  You may access the segment by clicking here.

When a family addresses their affairs, whether it’s a small change or a big decision, they’re in search of a quality result. Established families have inherent complexity in their affairs. The tax code, legal system, financial markets and various financial or insurance instruments are inextricably linked. Even if the family changes nothing, their past planning [...]

I read this Barron’s article today and thought we should discuss it.  Too much money rarely ruins kids, it’s too little character as we stated in our May 3rd, 2011 post. Character is the the foundation on which good responsible people are built.  Money or no money.  Money seems to only enhance the character that already [...]

It’s best to arrange for asset protection as early as possible, preferably before the asset has been created.  We analyze estate planning strategies that afford you and your family maximum asset protection from creditors, divorce, and taxes.  Our clients find great comfort knowing a lawsuit or a divorcing spouse will not have a negative impact [...]

Everything you ever thought about life insurance agents and their compensation is probably true. The industry is full of agents who take maximum compensation on policies they sell. Very few even discuss compensation amount and structure as a policy design feature.  In fact, it is considered “taboo” in the industry to disclose this information.  In [...]

Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Grassley (R-IA) Introduce Bill Including $5 Million Estate Tax Exemption With 35% Marginal Rate, Reunification of the Estate and Gift Taxes, Portability, and Opt In Provision for 2010. For your convenience, below is a synopsis of this Washington Report. In a summary released by Sen. McConnell, the estate tax [...]

  Members of Congress are back in legislative session this week after their lengthy summer recess. A plan to reinstate the estate tax has yet to take shape, but the upcoming work period will serve as a platform to begin debate over expiring tax provisions and broader tax reform, and the estate tax figures to [...]

Press Release: 09-03-2010 Media Contact:  Marissa Hopkins, marissa.lynn.hopkins@gmail.com WealthPoint, LLC, a leading provider of succession, legacy, and life insurance planning to high net worth clients throughout the United States, has acquired a one third interest in a comprehensive financial modeling platform.  The planning tool was developed over the past several years with the input and [...]

Regardless of how much someone is worth, the age old question “Will I run out of money?” is what can prevent a comprehensive estate or business succession plan from getting off the ground.  Planning for the future is never easy. Unfortunately for many people with significant wealth, they have not analyzed their personal financial security in relation [...]

 AALU has learned that at least four attorneys in academia and private practice have written to the Treasury Department asking that a durational limit – suggested to be two generations – be placed on trusts that qualify for the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemption, thus eliminating the incentive to establish so-called “perpetual dynasty trusts” in [...]