Funding Your Living Trust

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Once you have signed your living trust document, the next step is to change titles and beneficiary designations to your trust. This is called "funding" your living trust. This is probably the most important step in preparing a living trust. If you have signed your living trust document but haven't changed titles and beneficiary designations, you've simply wasted your money. You may have a great trust, but until you fund it, it doesn't control anything - because your living trust can only control the assets you put into it.

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Should You Move to a Roth IRA?

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Tired of trying to meet all the rules on traditional tax-deferred saving plans? Consider switching to a Roth IRA. Contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax-deductible. But, unlike a traditional IRA, you don't have to start taking money out (or stop putting money in) at age 70 1/2. And, after five years or age 59 1/2 (whichever is later), distributions to you and your beneficiaries will be income tax-FREE.

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Living Trusts

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A will may not be the best plan for you and your family - primarily because a will does not avoid probate when you die. A will must be filed with the probate court before it can be enforced. Also, because a will can only go into effect after you die, it provides no protection if you become physically or mentally incapacitated. Therefore a guardianship proceeding with the probate court would be necessary to manage your assets. Fortunately, there is a simple and proven alternative to a will - the revocable living trust. It avoids probate, and lets you keep control of your assets while you are living - even if you become incapacitated - and after you die.

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Estate Taxes

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Depending on how much you own when you die, your estate may have to pay estate taxes before your assets can be fully distributed. Estate taxes are different from, and in addition to, probate expenses (which can be avoided with a revocable living trust) and final income taxes (on income you receive in the year you die). Some states also have their own death/inheritance taxes.

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Who Should Be the Beneficiary of Your IRA?

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How would you like to turn your modest tax-deferred account into millions for your family? Depending on whom you name as beneficiary, you can keep this money growing tax-deferred for not only your and your spouse's lifetimes, but also for your children's or grandchildren's lifetimes. That can turn even a modest inheritance into millions.

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