Taxes and Living Trusts

Dear Trust Officer: How much can I save on my income taxes if I put my investments into a living trust? — Looking for Loopholes Dear Looking for Loopholes: Nothing. A revocable living trust that a grantor sets up to manage his or her wealth provides no income tax advantages. The trust’s income and capital […]

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Earnings Season Continues

Stocks were lower in the final two days of trading but still managed a small gain for the week, buoyed by the positive start to earnings season. Reports, while positive, have so far been in line with the positive expectations investors had built up going into the season. Market activity will again be influenced by […]

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Estate Plan Essentials

A surprising number of people have not yet attended to their estate planning. Perhaps this is because estate planning has become so much more complicated in recent years, even though the burden of taxes at death has been in decline. Estate planning now usually covers medical and financial decisions before the end of life, as […]

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Sizing Up the Corporate Tax Cuts

Stock indexes continued to hold above the recent correction’s lows last week as the first quarter earnings reports began to trickle in. The season will shift into higher gear this week as companies like Netflix, Bank of America, Bristol-Meyers Squib, Merck, Honeywell and Schlumberger report, not only their revenue and earnings for the quarter just […]

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Market Volatility Makes a Comeback

For investors, 2017 was an unusually calm year. The S&P 500 stock index never changed by 2% in a single day, either up or down. There were only eight 1% days all year. 2018 is shaping up to be a very different story. CNNMoneyInvest reports that, in the first quarter, we’ve already had six 2% […]

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2018 First Quarter Earnings Season Begins

Market prices constantly adjust to new information. Later this week we will begin receiving new, meaningful information as first quarter corporate earnings begin to trickle in. Reporting will be in full swing next week and continue through the month. We will soon be able to update the “E” in P/E multiples. Expectations are for S&P […]

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Many Hats in Trust Administration

Historically, the traditional trust had a trustee and beneficiaries. The modern trust may have a four, five, or more fiduciary and non-fiduciary positions that might include: administrative trustee, distributions trustee, trust protector, investment advisor, loan director, charitable designator, person holding a power to add beneficiaries, persons holding powers of appointment, person holding the power to […]

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First Quarter Summary

The S&P 500 began the year at 2,673.61 and from there continued its two-year rally to January 26th posting an all-time high close of 2,872.87. At that point, the index was up 57.07%, excluding dividends, from its February 11, 2016, close of 1,829.08. From the new high, stock prices became volatile as the index corrected […]

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