INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Cortburg Speaks Retirement
An audio podcast about investing in the stock market, financial planning, money management and retirement planning. Each Wednesday, we help investors at all stages of life learn how to potentially grow and preserve their money from first job through retirement.
Now here is your host, Miguel Gonzalez.
HOST
Good morning and welcome to the CORTBURG SPEAKS RETIREMENT audio podcast.
On this week’s audio podcast, I share a checklist to help you complete your year-end estate planning.
A trust is a legal vehicle that protects your assets that contains instructions for your assets when you die or become incapacitated. When you set up a trust, you transfer assets from your name into your trust's name while you still retain control of the assets until you die.
Trusts can hold many different assets, such as cash and bank accounts, real estate, securities, ownership interests in business entities, and other assets. For assets you want to preserve and transfer, it's essential to list them in a trust so they can avoid going through probate, a court process to transfer your assets retroactively, which can be expensive and public.
The end of the year is a great time to review your trust document, update information, buy or sell assets or even cancel your trust if you choose. Here is a checklist to help you complete your trust and year-end planning:
1. Review and update your trust document- Always keep a copy of your original trust document for your records and the latest trust document. Update any changed information, including if you designate a new trustee. Your legal professional can assist you in updating your trust documents before the end of the year.
2. Complete annual record-keeping duties- Recordkeeping may involve professionals to help ensure the trust is administered correctly, minimizing taxes, distributing capital gains to beneficiaries, and so on. Prepping for filing taxes is easier when recordkeeping duties are completed at the end of each year. Here are things to review, determine, and do before the end of the year:
· Payments made on behalf of beneficiaries and receipts
· Net income paid to beneficiaries
· Payments made to third-party payees
· Review the past year's tax records
· Make tax payments due before December 31st
· Make interest payments due before December 31st
· Other payments due
· Determine capital gains
· Estimate taxes due
Financial, legal, and tax professionals can help you with annual-record-keeping duties, so your trust is operating compliantly.
3. Review ownership of assets- You may have sold or purchased new assets during the year. Ensure your trust document has the correct items and that the trust is the owner, not an individual. You may need to update the titling on some of the assets in the trust, such as a home, cars, and other fixed assets.
4. Review and update beneficiary information- Your beneficiary information must be kept up-to-date since marriages, divorces, name changes, or other life events can occur. Make sure to review beneficiary information on these specific items:
· Life insurance
· Employer-sponsored retirement savings accounts
· Bank and brokerage accounts
· Annuities
5. Review disability documents- If you become disabled, your trust document directs your care through these essential disability documents:
· Power of attorney- lists who will manage your financial affairs if you cannot yourself.
· Medical directive- lists how you want to be medically cared for if you cannot make medical decisions yourself.
· Guardianship document-lists who will be the guardian of your children or you if you become incapacitated.
6. Review life insurance contracts- Review your life insurance contracts to ensure the death benefit is an appropriate amount for your situation. Also, review the details of each contract, such as when it ends, if it is a term life policy, or the cash value accumulation if it is a whole life insurance contract. Also, double-check the beneficiary information to ensure it is accurate.
As you complete your year-end planning, rely on your financial, legal, and tax professionals to help answer questions you may have or prepare your trust documents for next year.
Make sure to visit our website, www.CortburgRetirement.com. Our site is filled with educational videos, eBooks, publications, and financial calculators designed to help you learn more about your finances. As you search our site, send us a note regarding any questions you may have about any particular investment concepts or products. We will get back to you quickly with a thoughtful answer.
This is Miguel Gonzalez, Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) and Managing Partner, with Cortburg Retirement Advisors signing off for this week’s educational podcast.
DISCLOSURES
Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Please consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.
CRC conferred by The International Foundation for Retirement Education.
Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Private Advisor Group, LLC, a registered investment advisor.
Private Advisor Group, LLC and Cortburg Retirement Advisors, Inc. are separate entities from LPL Financial.
Investing involves risk including possible loss of principal.
· The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
· This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor.
· LPL Financial Representatives offer access to Trust Services through The Private Trust Company N.A., an affiliate of LPL Financial.
· All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.
· This article was prepared by Fresh Finance.
· Sources:
o https://www.estateplanning.com/understanding-living-trusts
o https://www.lincoln.edu/ways-give/major-planned-gifts/year-end-estate-planning-checklist.html