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Ivan J. Schell
Showing 5 posts by Ivan J. Schell.
Review Your One Big Beautiful Estate Plan: Estate and Tax Changes under the OBBBA
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a sweeping tax reform package that reshapes the financial landscape for high-net-worth families. From estate tax exemptions to new savings vehicles for children, the Act presents both opportunities and strategic considerations for those looking to preserve and grow their wealth across generations. More >
Put Portability in Your Plan – Changing Gift Tax Exemption Regulations for Spouses
Personal estate plans that reflect yours and your loved ones’ needs can help ease financial burdens for them in the future. New guidance from the IRS takes both yours and your spouse’s estate tax exemptions into consideration, allowing for the option to elect “portability” of your exemptions in certain cases. This opportunity can help to alleviate financial stress for those who have unfortunately lost a spouse, but its implementation is time sensitive, so it’s important to know how and when to act. More >
Give Now, Save Later – Capturing Current Estate and Gift Tax Exemptions
Many people think of an estate plan as a way for their assets to be distributed in the future, after their deaths. However, in some situations, it may be more advantageous to make at least some of those planned gifts now—and help your loved ones avoid some of the financial burden of estate taxes. Especially for individuals with high net worth, taxes could become much greater when the currently increased lifetime exemption amount “sunsets” on January 1, 2026. More >
Don’t Delay—Proposed Changes to Estate Tax Law Aim to Eliminate Step-Up in Basis
If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to start planning your estate, don’t wait any longer—the right time may be in the rearview before you know it. With a new administration in the White House, tax reform is on the agenda in Washington, and the proposed changes would have a major effect on many estates, especially for high-net-worth individuals. More >
An Estate Planning Tool You Can Trust: Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs)
With estate and gift tax exemptions at a historical, all-time high (over $11.5 million per person), it’s the perfect opportunity for married couples to take advantage of a unique estate planning tool: the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust, or SLAT. Before the current exemption is cut in half on January 1, 2026, we recommend that spouses explore the benefits of establishing a SLAT – not just for the benefit of one another, but for children and grandchildren – in order to reap the most from current tax protections. More >
