Shenkman Law

March 29, 2024

The end of 2025 will result in the gift, estate and GST tax exemption being reduced by half. Clients should evaluate the benefits of planning to use exemption before that occurs. How might clients evaluate options for planning before the deadline? What factors should they consider? How can practitioners guide them? Asset protection, income tax and management control are all benefits of this type of planning beyond potential estate tax benefits.  Irrevocable trust planning to use current exemption before the exemption is cut in half in 2026 will be a growing concern for many clients. While the foundation of much of planning for the past years for married clients has been spousal lifetime access trusts (“SLATs”) the planning for SLATs can be enhanced and improved. This webinar will explore important planning issues and options that the speakers have seen overlooked in many “typical” SLAT plans. Enhancing access to SLAT assets by using hybrid-DAPT, SPAT and DAPT variations will be discussed. Weighing possible estate tax benefits versus income tax benefits, and grantor versus non-grantor trust format, will be reviewed. Coordinating with financial and insurance planning to enhance the security of the plan for the clients (and lessen risks to practitioners) will be reviewed. Drafting and planning enhancements will be discussed. The “SLATs” that practitioners use in asset protection and exemption planning today can and should often be a more robust and enhanced version of what some practitioners have used in recent years. This program will provide actionable steps for clients.   Speakers: Robert S. Keebler, CPA/PFS, MST, AEP (Distinguished), and Martin Shenkman, Esq.   *There are no professional advancement credits (CPE, CLE, etc.) offered for viewing this webinar. *This may constitute attorney advertising.