Estate and Gift Planning
Without proper estate planning the government will take a significant portion of any estate. Ragain Financial helps clients prepare their estate so their family (not the IRS) receive estate possessions. Our CPA's and attorneys can put together a plan of trusts and gifts that will save thousands of dollars from being turned over to tax authorities.

The Tax Relief Act of 2001 gradually decreases the estate and gift tax rates while increasing the exemptions. In 2010 the estate tax will be repealed only to be reinstated in 2011. These rules can be used in combination with planning to help a client's family keep those things you have worked so hard to acquire.

Most people are surprised to see what their estate is worth. By adding up all assets (including life insurance proceeds) the total estate can often exceed the exemption amount. That leads to estate tax. Our estate services help clients use a few simple techniques to avoid those taxes and save their survivors money.

Gifting
Current law allows individuals to annually give $11,000 per recipient tax-free. That amount can be double if spouses also give-leading to $22,000 per recipient. Clients can double the amount they give again if they gift to the spouses of their heirs. The recipient does not have to be a relative, it can be anyone. These gifts do not effect a client's once-in-a-lifetime estate tax exemption.

Trusts
By placing assets in a trust, you can keep the property out of the estate and still pass the income production to heirs. There are many kinds of trust and some let clients keep control of the property, while others allow heirs to take control. Ragain Financial has an in-depth understanding of all trust products and can help you make the right decision.

Life Insurance
Life insurance is an effective tool to help pay estate tax without having to liquidate assets. With proper planning, certain life insurance proceeds can be kept out of your estate. Our insurance planning reports show clients how much insurance they need and how the ownership should be structured.