(Sanibel Captiva - Island Reporter, Islander & Current) - Are your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews ready to inherit your wealth? Have you set up your estate to protect and keep your assets within your family, and take advantage of the current high estate and gift tax exemption limits?
Over the next two decades, Americans are expected to pass down trillions of dollars in what some are calling “The Great Wealth Transfer,” but almost half of adults expecting an inheritance in the next decade say they don’t feel ready and confident about their ability to manage the money, according to a survey by New York Life.
– Just 42% of adults expecting an inheritance said they feel comfortable about their ability to manage their new wealth, according to the survey.
– On average, adults expecting an inheritance anticipate more than $700,000.
– Respondents expect higher prices, interest rates and credit card debt could impact their inheritance.
There are some strategies that you can employ now to help prepare the next generation to inherit your wealth, provide asset protection and maybe even reduce estate taxes.
– Have a conversation with your children/heirs to learn about any personal, financial or medical concerns they may have about inheriting your wealth.
– Meet with your estate planning attorney and make any estate document updates needed to keep assets within your family, protect against creditors, spendthrift, special needs, substance abuse, unstable marriages and other concerns.
– Conduct a family meeting along with your wealth advisor and your estate planning attorney to discuss how the estate plan is set up and why it was constructed that way. You don’t necessarily need to share the dollar amount of your estate. Take this opportunity to share your wishes for your legacy and any philanthropic desires. If you are placing inheritance assets into a trust rather than giving an outright distribution, an explanation as to why you are putting these funds into this protective wrapper can help alleviate future confusion and disappointments.
– If your finances allow, consider making monetary gifts to your children now. This can be a learning experience and may provide you with a window into how they handle money. In 2023, you and your spouse can each give up to $17,000 to any person. You can make gifts above this amount; however, the IRS will require you to file a 709-gift tax return to track amounts you have used of your lifetime gift exclusion.
– If your children already have considerable assets, speak to your estate planning attorney to determine if a generation skipping trust could be of value.
– Keep an eye on the sunset date Jan. 1, 2026, of the current federal lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion amounts. In 2023, that amount is $12.92 million ($25.84 million per married couple). If unchanged, the estimated federal lifetime exclusion will drop to about $6 million to $7 million per person or $12 million to $14 million per married couple. The current marginal tax rate for dollars exceeding this lifetime amount is 40%.
– If your net worth exceeds the exemption limits mentioned above, speak to your estate planning attorney and wealth advisor about strategies you can utilize to move funds or assets out of your estate now. If you have assets that may increase dramatically in value during your lifetime these strategies can add even more value.
– If your spouse predeceases you, be sure to discuss with your estate planning attorney and tax preparer the advantages of the portability election to capture your deceased spouse’s unused lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion amount.
– Consider making your charitable bequests by naming qualified nonprofits as beneficiaries of your traditional IRA rather than using after tax dollars. IRA withdrawals for a person are subject to ordinary income tax. If your estate exceeds the federal gift and estate tax exclusion limits, IRA assets could also be subject to federal estate tax (double taxation). If you or your children are residents outside of Florida, there may be state taxes as well.
– Make sure your assets are titled properly. Proper estate documents and trusts are only part of the equation. Working with your wealth advisor to coordinate the re-titling of your assets, also known as funding your trusts, or other entities is a critical part of the process.
– Keep communications open with your family and financial professionals. Circumstances and tax laws change, and your estate documents should change with them.
For many, an inheritance can be a blessing but for some it can be a curse. You know your family members better than anyone. With careful planning, you can help alleviate discord, and prepare your beneficiaries for success.
By Robin L. Cook
November 15, 2023
Robin L. Cook is a senior vice president and wealth advisor for Suncoast Prosperity Advisors, a division of Suncoast Equity Management, and a Sanibel resident.
