Now is the ideal time to start year-end tax planning so that credits and deductions can be maximized before the December 31st deadline.  Below you will find a variety of tax-saving strategies clients should consider using immediately so that they can get their 2015 tax house in order well in advance of the fast-approaching holiday season. Plan Now for a Bountiful Fall Harvest The last thing clients want to worry about during the holiday season is tax planning. Now is the perfect time to discuss the following tax-saving opportunities with clients so they can implement them in the next few weeks: Check the portfolio to determine which dud stocks can be sold to harvest losses and offset gains – keep in mind that short term losses are the most effective for offsetting capital gains and advisors must wait at least 31 days to buy back that dud stock to avoid

Estate planning has truly evolved over the past 20 years. Gone is the uncertainty about federal estate taxes and the absolute requirement for married couples to use complex trusts to minimize these taxes. But also gone is planning for the “traditional” family. In this issue you will learn why estate planning has become more complicated and what your clients need to do now to insure their estate plans are flexible enough to roll with the changes. Warning:  Estate Planning Today is Harder Than Ever Before In 1995 the federal estate tax exemption was only $600,000 and the estate tax rate was 55%. Back then it was easy to accumulate a taxable estate by simply owning a home, a few investments and some life insurance. And while married couples could pass on two times the exemption ($1.2 million) free from estate taxes if they incorporated Marital/Family Trusts into their estate plan,