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douglas kaune

Inherited IRA: What You Need to Know

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The Inherited IRA can provide powerful tax deferral benefits for named beneficiaries. In order to optimize the tax deferral options, the original owner must properly structure beneficiary designations in accordance with I.R.S. rules and regulations. The I.R.S. has laid a mine field of beneficiary designation traps that can either serve to reduce or eliminate the …

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Divorce and Asset Protection For Beneficiaries Cont.

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We continue to receive inquiries from clients in search of ways to protect the assets they leave to their children and beneficiaries from divorce, law suits and creditors. Although clients protection from tax liability is of continued importance, asset protection in estate planning has grown in significance. Clients recognize that 50% or more of the …

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Protect Assets Using Family Care Agreements

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Family Care Agreements, also referred to as Caregiver Agreements, have increased in popularity as a result of the more stringent Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) Medicaid gifting rules. These agreements are usually established between an elderly individual who is agreeing to “pay” and the individual or individuals who is/are agreeing to provide continued care and assistance …

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Reminder: Medicaid Asset Protection is Alive after the DRA

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There is a great deal of misinformation about the viability of Medicaid and Nursing Home asset protection planning after the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). I want to remind clients, friends and advisors that there are an abundance of planning options available to single and married individuals who want to protect assets from spending …

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Getting Government Assistance For At Home Nursing Care

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Many clients with family members and spouses in need of full time nursing care would like to provide care at home. Unfortunately, not everyone has the financial resources to pay for this care privately. There might be an alternative to private pay home care for you and your family. There are possible options such …

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Joint Accounts Can Have Unexpected Pitfalls

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Joint bank accounts are often established by individuals with the hope of creating an account with one or more of the following benefits: probate avoidance, reduced inheritance taxes or as a convenient way to allow family member to write checks and pay bills. Unfortunately there are numerous Medicaid/Elder Law Planning, estate planning and asset protection …

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IRA Trusts, Providing Extra Creditor and Asset Protection

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IRA’s and other tax deferred retirement plans can now be left to trusts for your beneficiaries instead of directly to the beneficiaries. These IRA Trusts are broadly categorized as either conduit trusts or accumulation trusts. These trusts must be written with care in order to insure that not only are the assets protected from the …

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How long does probate take?

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The length of the probate process in Pennsylvania (PA) or other states varies greatly from estate to estate. The determining factors include the assets involved in the estate, the experience of the Executor/Administrator and counsel and the ease in dealing with the beneficiaries. Contrary to common belief, the process is rarely impacted by the actual …

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P.O. BOX 515
West Chester, PA 19380
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Phoenixville, PA 19460
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