The John Marshall Law School

Climbing the Gift Annuity Ladder
Back when CD interest rates were higher, it became popular for investors to purchase new CDs every six months, with maturity dates ranging from six months to as long as five years . . . more

Creative Charitable Gift Annuity “Apps”
There seems to be no end to the useful applications generous people have found for charitable gift annuities . . . more

Do I Really Need an Attorney to Write My Will?
It’s possible to write your own will using “cookie cutter” legal forms or computer software.  But there are countless ways to go wrong with a do-it-yourself will, and it pays to have the expert guidance of an estate planning attorney for a document that may dispose of hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars . . . more

Hidden Sources of Retirement Income
Many retired men and women report that their biggest concern in life is simply running out of money. But additional sources of income are sometimes available to retirees . . . more

Be sure to check this site each month for new planning ideas. If you would like to receive our Personal Planning Ideas by e-mail each month, please click here.

April 2013 Archive
• Give Your Estate Plan a Good Spring Cleaning
• Lock in Stock Profits, Increase Spendable Income
• A Planning Idea You Can Flip Over 
• Gifts of Excess Group Life Insurance

March 2013 Archive
• Give Income Away Before It’s Taxed
• The “Ethics” of Having a Will or Living Trust
• Q&A on Leaving a Legacy from Retirement Accounts 
• Options and Strategies for Gifts of Real Estate

February 2013 Archive
• Congress Continues Tax Bonus for Gifts of Securities
• Deduction Cutbacks Will Affect Very Few Charitable Contributors
• No “Sunset” for $5,250,000 Estate Tax Exemption 
• Charitable Remainder Trusts More Attractive to Investors in High Tax Brackets 

January 2013 Archive
• Congress OKs 2012 IRA Gifts – Extended Through January 31, 2013
• “Second to Die” (Survivorship) Life Insurance Gifts Are Economical
• My Sister Sally’s Antique Will 
• The Satisfaction of Memorial Gifts 
• “My age?  I’m 76, going on 77”

December 2012 Archive
• Don’t Forget to Plan Your Digital Estate
• Forgoing Vacation Days Can Benefit Hurricane Victims 
• A Personal Message to Friends and Family 
• Trust Solves IRA Beneficiary Puzzle

November 2012 Archive
• Multiply Your Generosity with Gifts of Stock
• Tips and Traps on Beneficiary Designations 
• A Learning Exercise for Spouses 
• Timing Can Be Everything in Gift Planning