Carrier Errors: The Importance of Life Insurance Policy Review


July 23, 2015
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In a previous post, I discussed the importance of having a life insurance policy analysis done on a regular basis. I was recently reminded of the importance of policy reviews when I received correspondence from a life insurance carrier whose policy expenses exceeded what was necessary to support the death benefit. Though the mistake was […]

Overcome Obstacles to Effective Healthcare Directives


July 21, 2015
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Are improvements to healthcare directives necessary and possible? The answer is an emphatic YES! As a trusted advisor, you can blaze the trail for your clients. In the past three decades, a relatively low percent of adults have completed a healthcare directive. So what shortcomings are impeding the national acceptance of advance care planning? 10 […]

7 Tips for the 706


April 21, 2015
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As tax season is wrapping up I’ve found myself busy with a few estate tax returns, and wanted to share 7 Tips to keep in mind when completing a United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return – aka the 706. The federal form (coming in at 31 pages before any schedules and supporting documentation […]

How to Collect Your Final Wages


March 23, 2015
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Collecting Final Wages from Your Employer Most of us don’t work for free. If your employer hasn’t paid you all of the wages you’ve earned, then that’s exactly what you’d be doing. What follows is a quick guide on what to do if your employer owes you wages. The rules for wages due to an […]

Painless Probate: Closing Informally


March 19, 2015
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I really don’t know how probate got such a bad reputation, but in my experience it isn’t that bad. As other contributors to Epilawg have noted (see for example: Estate Planning Myth #6: I Must Avoid Probate), Probate can be a pretty painless process. Closing an Informal Probate illustrates that point perfectly. In 3 easy […]

Tax Season Considerations: 1099 and Tangible Property


January 22, 2015
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The month of January, of course, brings the start of the tax filing season.  As such, there are a couple of items to think about. These two particular items are mainly directed at businesses, however, individuals who own rental properties or who are sole proprietors may be impacted as well. 1099 Reporting First, 1099 reporting […]

What to do When You Get a Traffic Ticket


January 5, 2015
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At some point in your life, you’re bound to get a traffic ticket – most likely a speeding ticket. If you are smart (and lucky) enough to avoid this, take a bow. But for the rest of us, what to do next may be an unknown. So here is a quick article that can hopefully […]

Year End Tax Planning Part 4: Minnesota Changes


December 30, 2014
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In addition to changes intended to align Minnesota tax with Federal calculations, the state also made several additional benefits available. If any of these may apply to you, please a tax professional for more in-depth information. Dependent Care Credit As part of the federal update legislation, the federal credit computation the Minnesota uses was updated […]