All posts by Tom Lofton

Do You Have an Estate over $11M…You’ll Want to Know About This Technique

The federal estate and gift tax exemption is at an all-time high ($11,400,000 as of January 1, 2019). This means that the vast majority of people will be tax exempt when it comes to gift taxes and only a tiny percentage of people who will have taxable estates. But for those of you who do […]

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Are You Taking Advantage of the 199A Tax Deduction?

Estate tax issues with new tax laws

Since it went into effect on January 1, 2018, our law office has been receiving a LOT of inquiries about the new IRC §199A deduction. Most don’t understand it and those that do aren’t sure exactly how to take advantage of it, or if it even applies to them. Allow me to try and simplify […]

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What is “The QBI Pass Through” (simplified) and How Does it Help Me as a Business Owner?

Unfortunately, like many aspects of the law, the new QBI deduction is complex and regulations to explain the application of this provision have only partially cleared up some of the confusion surrounding its usage. Let me try and simplify this for you so you can hopefully take advantage of all it has to offer.One of […]

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What is a “DAPT” and Why You Should Care About It

Let me start by defining what “DAPT” stands for…Domestic Asset Protection Trust. Still confused by what it means? Many are as it isn’t something that is simple and easy to understand in the first pass. I will hopefully help you understand it better and offer you some ideas on how it can be used so […]

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Singles Still Need a Plan for Retirement…just Different

Being in a relationship isn’t for everyone. However, if you find yourself single in the long run, financial experts say you should be planning for retirement differently

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The Benefits of Having a Power of Attorney in Place

POAs are legal documents that allow you to name an “agent” (also sometimes referred to as an “Attorney-in-fact”) to act on your behalf for financial or health care decisions. They are key components of any estate plan

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Are You Going to Take Advantage of the Proposed “Clawback” Changes?

Estate tax issues with new tax laws

Because of the recent tax law changes, there is an interesting proposal on the table that will be voted on in March of 2019. It is expected to pass with little opposition. If it does pass, there will be some interesting “opportunities” for people between now and 2026. This is the window where you will […]

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Fathers Strive to Protect Their Families…An Estate Plan Helps

Despite how it safeguards their families, many men avoid will-writing and estate planning. What is it that makes them so hesitant to do it

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4 Social Security Slips You Should Avoid

Social Security provides valuable benefits, and it’s important not to waste the opportunity to get them. However, given just how complex it is to evaluate your Social Security benefits, it’s not surprising that some people make mistakes

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Celebrity “Fail” Series…Fail #3…How Burt Reynolds and Aretha Franklin Failed at Estate Planning

Burt Reynolds and Aretha Franklin fails in estate planning

This is the third in our “Celebrity Fail Series” that talks about how celebrities failed to do the proper planning for their estates. Besides having some great entertainment value, there are some important lessons that can be learned from some of the most recognized celebrities. It also demonstrates that effective estate planning isn’t about having the […]

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