Inherited IRA Distributions Made Simple…or At Least I Thought So…

by Leslie Marenco | Jul 30, 2014 | Articles, Estate Planning, IRAs / 401(k), Retirement, Uncategorized

Whether you’re inheriting an IRA or aiming to protect your own heirs, you’ve got to learn to dance the IRS jig. Under normal circumstances, barring qualification for an exemption, a distribution from a regular IRA prior to age 59.5 will result in the distribution...

Before You Take Off for Summer Vacation, Take On These 5 To-Dos

by Leslie Marenco | Jul 11, 2014 | Articles, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Health Care Directive, IRAs / 401(k), Kids Protection Planning, Trusts

It’s no surprise that Americans spend more time planning their summer vacations than they do planning their estate.  After all, a vacation is a trip you want to go on, while the eternal “trip” is not. However, wouldn’t you travel with more peace of mind if you knew...

How to Protect Life Insurance Proceeds from Taxation

by Leslie Marenco | Feb 7, 2014 | Articles, IRAs / 401(k), Trusts

If you have been responsible enough to purchase a life insurance policy as added protection for your loved ones, then you will want to carry that responsible action a little further by protecting that important payout from taxation. If you are married and have named...

Think About Your Beneficiary Designations Over the Holidays

by Leslie Marenco | Dec 27, 2013 | Articles, IRAs / 401(k), Uncategorized

When you look around your holiday table this year, you will probably not be thinking about the beneficiary designations on your 401(k), IRAs or life insurance policies.  But perhaps you should. Having the wrong beneficiary designated on these and other things like...

10 Estate Planning Questions to Ask Before Year-End

by Leslie Marenco | Dec 6, 2013 | Articles, Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Gift Tax, Income Tax, IRAs / 401(k), Trusts, Wills

If you have not revisited your estate plan this year following the changes made to the estate and gift tax laws by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 passed by Congress on Jan. 1, 2013, ask yourself these 10 questions then schedule a meeting with your Estate...

Divorce After 50: Common Mistakes That Can Ruin Retirement

by Leslie Marenco | Aug 23, 2013 | Articles, IRAs / 401(k), Retirement

Beyond the emotional impact that divorce can have on couples of any age that decide to split, it can have a potentially devastating effect on the retirement plans of those who divorce later in life.  Divorce after 50 usually results in a loss of income for both...