Wealthyist Episode 4: Time For Strategic Estate Planning (with Amy Kiiskila)
The podcast episode focuses on estate planning in the post-election landscape, emphasizing the need for continued strategic planning despite uncertainties in tax law changes. Here's a summary of the discussion:
- Post-Election Estate Planning: The conversation begins by addressing the common fear that people might slow down on estate planning after the election due to the belief that significant legislative changes might not occur immediately. However, the guests stress the importance of not halting planning, given the potential for future changes in estate tax laws.
- Current Legal Landscape: The episode discusses how, under current law, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is set to sunset in 2026, potentially reducing estate tax exemptions from around $14 million per person. Although the recent election results suggest that the exemptions might extend, the guests urge listeners not to assume any changes until they are formalized.
- Strategic Tools and Techniques:
- Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT): This is highlighted as a flexible planning tool where one spouse can set up an irrevocable trust for the other, allowing for asset transfers while still maintaining some access to assets via the beneficiary spouse. The trade-off is the loss of step-up in basis on transferred assets, which impacts income tax considerations.
- Gifting: The podcast explains the benefits of annual exclusion gifts, where individuals can gift up to $18,000 (increasing to $19,000 in the next year) per person without incurring gift tax. This method is particularly effective for moving wealth over time, especially when done consistently.
- 529 Plans and Other Vehicles: For gifting to minors, options like 529 plans, uniform transfers to minors, or irrevocable trusts are discussed, focusing on state tax advantages and asset protection.
- Life Insurance: There's an emphasis on using life insurance for liquidity at death, especially for business owners or those with significant real estate holdings. The discussion touches on using irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs) to keep insurance proceeds out of the taxable estate.
- Proactive and Continuous Planning: The hosts stress that estate planning should not be a one-time event but a continuous process. They advocate for regular reviews of estate plans due to legislative changes (like the SECURE Act) and personal life changes. The importance of having a dedicated team or advisor to navigate these complexities is reiterated.
- Conclusion: The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners not to delay estate planning, emphasizing partnership with knowledgeable professionals to make informed decisions about wealth transfer and tax strategies.
This podcast aims to educate listeners on the nuances of estate planning in an environment where tax laws could change, encouraging active and thoughtful planning to secure one's financial legacy.
