Category: Estate Planning

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What’s in this article: The Millionaire’s Tax – Now Law Pass-Through Entity (PTE) Considerations and SALT Planning Washington Estate Tax Changes (Effective 2026) Washington Luxury Taxes (Effective 2026) State and Local Employer Taxes (Evolving Area) Key Takeaways Our Approach Washington has taken a significant step in reshaping its tax system. Governor Ferguson recently signed the [...]

For many families, estate planning begins with a will and basic documents. As wealth grows, however, planning may need to become more strategic. The focus shifts from simply transferring assets to encompass a broader and longer-term view: protecting wealth, minimizing taxes, and structuring assets so they can support multiple generations and establish a family legacy. [...]

Families often assign a trusted family member or friend to serve as their trustee to take on the role of settling their estate and distributing trust assets. But there are times when families may want to seek professional support beyond friends and family—whether due to complexities of the trust, a need for a neutral third [...]

What’s in this article? What Does a Trustee Actually Do? During Incapacity: A Financial First Responder After Death: Administration, Distribution, or Ongoing Management The Characteristics of a Strong Trustee Naming an Individual vs. a Corporate Trustee A Decision That Should Evolve   As a Certified Financial Planner™, I often tell clients that naming a trustee [...]

What’s in this article? What is an executor? Executor core responsibilities The process of settling an estate Timeline expectations Fiduciary duty Finding support   Being named the executor of an estate is both practical and personal. On paper, it’s a legal role. In reality, it’s a position of trust. You’re the person someone chose to [...]

What’s in this article? State tax considerations for Oregon and Washington residents Taking advantage of the annual and lifetime gift tax exclusion Making direct payments for education and healthcare Gifting to 529 Plans Using custodial accounts and trust structures as a tool for gifting to grandkids   Many of the grandparents that I work with [...]

As we near the end of the year, it’s time to wrap up year-end charitable giving. To ensure that your gift donations are processed by year-end, please follow the deadline guidelines below provided by Schwab and Fidelity for your brokerage accounts. Schwab Year-End Gifting Deadlines Type of gift/contribution Deadline requirement for 2025 tax deduction Mutual [...]

Summary points: This article outlines and describes some of the most important legal documents you’ll need to include as part of your end-of-life planning, including: Your last will and/or living trust determine how assets are passed on after your death; a living trust may also determine how assets are used and distributed if you are [...]