Blog
Pairing a Living Trust With a Pour-Over Will Can Help Cover All Your Assets
A living trust is one of the most versatile estate planning tools available. It offers a streamlined way to manage and transfer assets while maintaining privacy and control. Unlike a traditional will, a living trust allows your assets to pass directly to your beneficiaries without going through probate. By placing
What You Need to Know About Deducting Business Gifts
Thoughtful business gifts are a great way to show appreciation to customers and employees. They can also deliver tax benefits when handled correctly. Unfortunately, the IRS limits most business gift deductions to $25 per person per year, a cap that hasn’t changed since 1962. Still, with careful planning and good
New Law Eases The Limitation On Business Interest Expense Deductions For 2025 and Beyond
Interest paid or accrued by a business is generally deductible for federal tax purposes. But limitations apply. Now some changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will result in larger deductions for affected taxpayers. Limitation basics The deduction for business interest expense for a particular tax year is
Don’t Forget to Include a Residuary Clause in Your Will
When creating a will, most people focus on the big-ticket items — including who gets the house, the car and specific family heirlooms. But one element that’s often overlooked is the residuary clause. This clause determines what happens to the remainder of your estate — the assets not specifically mentioned in your
Year-End Tax Planning For Accrual-Basis Taxpayers
Projecting your business’s income for this year and next can allow you to time income and deductible expenses to your tax advantage. It’s generally better to defer tax — unless you expect to be in a higher tax bracket next year. Timing income and expenses can be easier for cash-basis
Beware The Pitfalls of DIY Estate Planning
A do-it-yourself (DIY) estate plan may seem appealing to those who feel confident managing their own affairs and want to save money. With the abundance of online templates and legal software, it’s easier than ever to draft a will, establish powers of attorney or create a trust without professional help.
How The Social Security Wage Base Will Affect Your Payroll Taxes in 2026
The 2026 Social Security wage base has been released. What’s the tax impact on employees and the self-employed? Let’s take a look. FICA Tax 101 The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) imposes two payroll taxes on wages and self-employment income — one for Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance, commonly known
Your Family Needs to Know How to Access Your Estate Planning Documents
Making sure your family will be able to locate your estate planning documents when needed is one of the most important parts of the estate planning process. Your carefully prepared will, trust or power of attorney will be useless if no one knows where to find it. When loved ones
Should Your Business Maximize Deductions For Real Estate Improvements Now or Spread Them Out?
Commercial real estate usually must be depreciated over 39 years. But certain real estate improvements — specifically, qualified improvement property (QIP) — are eligible for accelerated depreciation and can even be fully deducted immediately. While maximizing first-year depreciation is often beneficial, it’s not always the best tax move. QIP Defined QIP
Is an HDHP Plus an HSA a Financially Smart Health Care Option For You?
Health care costs continue to increase. Pairing a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA) can help. Insurance premiums will be lower because of the high deductible. And the HSA provides a tax-advantaged way to fund the deductible and other medical expenses. 5 HSA Tax Benefits HSAs