Minnesota Estate Tax Changes May Be on the Horizon


December 26, 2012
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The Minnesota Department of Revenue (“DOR”) is preparing a report that analyzes Minnesota’s current estate tax laws. The report will provide the Legislature with options to consider for changes to or elimination of the estate tax.

Charlie Chaplin


December 25, 2012
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April 16, 1889 – December 25, 1977 It has been 35 years since the comedic actor, Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, died at the age of 88. Chaplin started performing at the of age 5 years old, the child of two entertainers. Chaplin performed on stage and in the movies for most of his life. He […]

Valuing a gift


December 22, 2012
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Scheduled to decrease January 1, 2013, the federal gift tax exemption will go from the $5.12 million to $1 million*. Many individuals have made substantial gifts this year to take advantage of the high exemption. The type of assets gifted vary; from unique art collections and family business interests to real property, securities, and cash. […]

8 Advantages of 529 College Savings Plans


December 17, 2012
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This year, total student loan debt has climbed over the $1 trillion mark and tuition continues to grow at double the rate of inflation. Starting a college savings plan has never been more important. The earlier families get started, the better. Most of the time, families are well-intentioned and want to save for their children’s […]

PROFESSIONAL FIDUCIARIES: WHO NEEDS THEM?


December 12, 2012
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People need fiduciaries for a variety of reasons, but this article is written with elderly people who are incapacitated by dementia in mind. Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a variety of diseases that affect memory, attention, language, and problem solving abilities to such an extent that daily living is seriously affected.   I […]

How a Guardianship for a Minor Works


December 7, 2012
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We have had many posts related to choosing guardians for your children should something happen to both parents before their children reach the age of majority: Appointing a Guardian for Minor Children, How to Choose A Guardian, among other miscellaneous references to the importance of having an estate plan when you have minor children. As […]

Trust Protectors


December 4, 2012
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When a trust is created, it is always important to choose the right trustee. Generally, a trustee should be an individual(s) or company that is detail-oriented and will follow all required fiduciary duties. In previous posts, a trustee’s fiduciary duties and responsibilities have been outlined and discussed. Normally, a trustee is all that is needed […]

Desi Arnaz


December 2, 2012
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March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986 Desi Arnaz died at the age of 69 of cancer. He was from Santiago, Cuba and move to the United States with his family when he was young. He began his career as a musician and made his way to Broadway. He met his famous wife, Lucille Ball, […]