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Phone: (480) 229-6220
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Untitled

Choosing Goals
"Every retirement and estate plan is different and you need a planner who will treat your plan
as a custom extension of you."
Your pursuits in life, health, number of dependents, assets and liabilities will make your plan unique.
We recommend addressing your needs in this order:
  1. Protecting dependents' quality of life from loss of income & appointing guardians
  2. Appointing Powers of Attorney
  3. Protecting and simplifying retirement assets
  4. Simplifying estate transfer procedures
  5. Exploring options for additional goals
To start prioritizing your needs  


Questions Needing Consideration
Protecting Dependents' Quality of Life
  • What would happen to your loved ones without your or another provider's income?  
  • Would the income absence lead to severe hardship for loved ones?   
  • When will any children be independent?
  • Are those children's higher education paid for?
  • What existing protection do you have?   
  • When did you last review your existing protection?
  • If you have children, have you appointed guardians?

Appointing Powers of Attorney
  • In case of incapacity, who will make your medical and financial decisions?
  • Who has legal authority to operate any businesses interests during your incapacity?

Protecting and Simplifying Retirement Assets

  • At what age are you planning to retire?
  • Will your retirement assets be large enough to support you? 
  • What percent of your IRA's or 401k's are susceptible to market fluctuation?
  • What percent of your IRA's or 401k's is earning interest too low to support your lifestyle?
  • As you get closer to retiring, should you reallocate some retirement funds? 
  • Are you paying taxes annually on the growth of your retirement assets? 

Simplifying Estate Transfer Procedures

  • What is the value of your probate estate? (Include all assets and the full value of your properties, not your equity)
  • Is probate likely for your estate?
  • Would probate cause problems for your beneficiaries and dependents?
  • Have you experienced the probate process?
  • If so, how long did probate last and how much did the process cost?
  • Would the inexpensive gift of a trust be beneficial for your beneficiaries?

Should You Be Concerned with Federal Estate Taxes

Your estate has the following exemptions up to the amount listed depending upon the year you pass:

In 2010, the Sunset provision terminates legislation unless extensions are enacted by future legislation action. 

No one knows what will happen after 2010, but one thing is consistent in our country's history: Uncle Sam always gets his cut

Prior to June 2001, only two percent of persons dying were subject to any federal estate taxes.

  • When you pass, will your estate be subject to federal estate taxes? 
Year
Exemption
2005
$1.5 Million
2006-2008
$2.0 Million
2009
$3.5 Million
2010
Repealed
2011
$1.0 Million?

Summary:
·  Protect dependents' quality of life
·  Appointing Powers of Attorney
·  Protecting and simplify retirement assets
·  Simplifying estate transfer procedures
·  Address options for additional goals



If you have questions or would like to learn more, please call (480) 229-6220 or send a message by clicking the email address above.