IRA Update

If an individual owns more than one IRA, they might want to consolidate those IRAs into a single IRA to assure the full creditor protect that Michigan statute affords the IRA owner.

Read More

A Brief History of the Rule Against Perpetuities

Michigan’s version of the Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities provides for a 90-year wait-and-see duration for a future contingent interest to vest, but the Personal Property in Trust Act extends that duration to 360 years.

Read More

Roth Recharacterizations – No; Switching Contributions – Yes

While a recharacterization of a Roth IRA, back to a traditional IRA is no longer possible, an IRA owner is still able, within a narrow time frame, to change the nature of their contribution from traditional to Roth, or just the opposite.

Read More

State Transfer Taxes

In Michigan we do not have either a state estate tax or state inheritance tax to plan ‘around.’ However, there are several states that still impose, one or the other tax that should be considered when provide planning guidance.

Read More

Trump, Taxes, Tariffs, and Turmoil

It has been less than two weeks since Mr. Trump became President-elect Trump, but the speculation on the impact of his return to the Presidency on taxes and estate planning has already generated several articles, perspectives, and (no surprise) wild speculation.

Read More

SECURE 2.0 Act’s Section 327 Election

The proposed Regulations to the SECURE 2.0 Act provide a surviving spouse more flexibility in taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from an inherited retirement account, yet understanding those new rules will be a challenge.

Read More

More Expansive Eligible Designated Beneficiary Definition

The Final Regulations that provide guidance to the SECURE Act, released on July 18, 2024, give a slightly broader definition of an eligible designated beneficiary and some relief from the certification requirements.

Read More

GST Regulations – A Bit of Help

Normally I avoid ‘like the plague’ writing about the federal generation skipping transfer tax (GST) because: (i) I don’t fully understand the GST rules and its confusing elections and exemptions; and (ii) I usually break out in hives as I struggle to read and understand the GST rules and the nuances of those rules.

Read More

S Corporation Stock Held in Trusts – A Quick Overview

Holding S corporation stock in a non-grantor Trust is possible, but also a challenge considering the rules under the Tax Code that must be followed for the Trust to hold the S stock.

Read More

Limits of Exempt Assets

An exempt asset is no longer exempt when it is held in the hands of its owner.

Read More