Art, Auctions, and Advocacy: A Conversation with Bonnie Brennan
The Impact of One Big Beautiful Bill on Estate Planning
Once Removed Episode 19: The Step-Transaction Doctrine and the Case of Smaldino
Once Removed Episode 18: The Reciprocal Trust Doctrine
Charitable Planning With Guest Stephanie Hood: Navigating Complex Rules and Traps for the Unwary
Once Removed Episode 16: Gift and Estate Tax, Inflation Adjustments for 2024
Once Removed Episode 17: Annual Gifting to Individuals: Options, Opportunities and Pitfalls
Once Removed Episode 12: SLATs and the Case of McKim vs. McKim
Once Removed Episode 11: Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts, or SLATs
Once Removed Episode 10: Trustee Removal and Case Update on Leo Kahn Revocable Trust
Once Removed Episode 7: Trust Income Tax
Once Removed Episode 5: Trusts
Once Removed Episode 4: Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax
Once Removed Episode 3: Estate and Gift Tax
(A)ESOP's Fables - The Income and Estate Tax-Free ESOP
The Renoir Spelling Bee
Taking the Sting Out of Death Taxes with Dylan Metzner, Jones & Keller
RETURN TO FOREVER - What Game Shall We Play Today?
To Give or Not to Give: Considerations for Year-End Gifting
It is the most natural estate plan anyone can think of. You sit down with your spouse and agree: “If I go first, you get everything. When you go, the kids split what is left.” It’s simple, it’s fair, and it reflects your...more
Major changes to inheritance tax (IHT) are on the way. From 6 April 2027, most death benefits paid by registered pension schemes will be treated as part of the deceased member’s estate for IHT purposes. This applies whether...more
Many in the wine industry are part of a legacy, or hope to create one, where properties and business interests are ultimately passed down to the next generation and beyond. While many plan to pass these long-term assets along...more
On May 12, 2026, a Bill entitled the “Fair Trusts for Fiscal Responsibility Act” was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Patty Murray and co-led by Sen. Ron Wyden. The proposed legislation would impose an annual “withholding...more
Effective estate planning involves a careful consideration of assets and their distribution to ensure intended beneficiaries experience a seamless transfer of assets when the time comes. Understanding the difference between...more
From April 6, 2027, the way that pension scheme death benefits are treated for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes will change significantly. Unused pension funds and death benefit lump sums will largely be brought within the...more
A Florida appellate court has just reaffirmed a doctrine that every cross-border family with Florida ties should understand — and that their estate plan should proactively address....more
Qualifications matter. Just as you wouldn’t call an electrician to fix a plumbing problem, you shouldn’t create estate planning documents yourself. Doing so might subject your estate to costly litigation by disgruntled...more
Ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families face a valuation environment that is far more complex than simply determining the worth of an asset. In the context of trust, gift, and estate tax planning, valuation becomes a...more
Host Caryn Keppler, a trust and estates attorney with Offit Kurman, welcomes Bonnie Brennan, Chief Executive Officer of Christie’s, for an in-depth conversation exploring the intersection of art, law, collecting, and legacy. ...more
With a federal estate tax rate of 40%, estate planning conversations often start and stop with the relatively high federal exemption (currently $15 million for individuals and $30 million for married couples). That can make...more
Wealth is built over years. Sometimes decades. But without the right legal structures in place, that wealth can be significantly diminished by the time it reaches your grandchildren — or it may not reach them at all. If you...more
With recent headlines around a Powerball winner in Delaware, many are thinking about what they would do in the event of a sudden windfall....more
A few days ago, Sen. Wyden, the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, introduced a bill to tax carried interests as ordinary income on a current basis. A day earlier, Sen. Van Hollen introduced a bill to reduce the...more
The freeze partnership technique (the “technique”) has been used for decades to transfer wealth to the next generation while reducing estate, gift, generation-skipping and income taxes. Despite being explicitly authorized...more
The Administration just released its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027. The Budget proposes to streamline IRS operations by reducing the agency’s budget to $9.8 billion – a $1.4 billion cut from current spending...more
On March 4, 2025, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Estate of Kalikow v. Comm’r., 135 AFTR 2d 2025-831 (2d Cir. 2025), upheld the US Tax Court’s prior ruling in Estate of Kalikow v. Comm’r., T.C. Memo....more
Following adjournment of the 2026 Washington State legislative session on March 12, 2026, Governor Bob Ferguson signed into law several bills that repealed or rolled back a variety of taxes enacted only one year earlier. This...more
There is a particular kind of anxiety that settles in when the financial news cycle becomes impossible to ignore. Markets swing. Policy proposals emerge that could reshape taxation overnight....more
Even the most carefully crafted estate plan can unravel if the wrong individuals are appointed to serve as executor or trustee. Executors and trustees are fiduciaries vested with broad authority to administer assets under...more
As the son of a former business owner, I understand how crucial it is to plan for the future, whether that be passing down your business or preparing for a transition. As a business owner, the decision of how to transfer your...more
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act (OBBBA) introducing major changes affecting high-net-worth individuals, family businesses and family offices. The bill impacted a variety of tax areas,...more
Understanding the intricacies of gift and estate tax is essential for individuals seeking to optimize their overall tax and financial planning. The requirements set forth in the tax code can significantly impact an...more
It is estimated that $1.5 to $2 trillion is passed annually to younger generations. As the "Great Wealth Transfer" continues, family business owners face a distinct set of personal and sometimes conflicting wealth transfer...more
The Washington state legislature has adjourned for 2026, and key tax changes are in store if Governor Bob Ferguson signs several tax-related bills into law, and if those tax changes then survive expected legal challenges. The...more