Estate Planning with Fexingo: Wills, Trusts, and Passing Wealth to Future Generations

Many executors skip filing Form 706 when no estate tax is due, losing the deceased spouse's unused exemption—a costly mistake that's especially dangerous after the 2026 exemption halving. This episode explains the portability election, the nine-month deadline, and why a simple return can save a surviving spouse millions in estate taxes. Includes a concrete example of a $14 million estate and practical steps for filing. Also covers differences between portability and credit shelter trusts, remarriage pitfalls, and state-level estate tax complications.

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In this episode of Estate Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna break down the single most powerful tax break for inherited assets: the step-up in basis. Using a concrete example—a home bought for $100,000 now worth $500,000—they show how heirs can sell the property and pay zero capital gains tax, versus giving it during life and facing a tax bill on $400,000 of gain. They explain the difference between carryover basis (gifts) and step-up (inheritance), why step-up is critical for stock, real estate, and family business owners, and what proposed tax reforms could mean for the rule in 2026 and beyond. Perfect for anyone building a multi-generational wealth plan.

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Lucas and Luna explore the often-overlooked letter of instruction—an informal document that tells your heirs where to find assets, how to handle them, and what you intended. They discuss a real case where a family lost over $200,000 because no one knew about a hidden safety deposit box, and provide a step-by-step guide to writing your own. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants their estate plan to actually work for their beneficiaries.

#EstatePlanning #LetterOfInstruction #Inheritance #FamilyWealth #WillAndTrust #Heirs #EstateAdministration #ExecutorGuide #FamilyMeeting #LegacyPlanning #Finance #PersonalFinance #WealthTransfer #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #DigitalAssets #Probate #Beneficiary

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In this episode of Estate Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna break down the SECURE Act's 10-year rule for inherited IRAs. Using the example of a niece inheriting her uncle's traditional IRA, they explain why the old 'stretch IRA' is gone, who qualifies for exceptions, and what strategies—like pre-death Roth conversions or using a charitable remainder trust—can help you minimize the tax burden for your beneficiaries. They also cover the impact of SECURE 2.0 and offer practical steps to review your beneficiary designations. Essential listening for anyone with retirement accounts who wants to pass wealth efficiently.

#EstatePlanning #InheritedIRA #SECUREAct #RetirementPlanning #StretchIRA #10YearRule #BeneficiaryDesignation #RothConversion #TaxPlanning #EligibleDesignatedBeneficiary #CRT #Finance #WealthTransfer #LucasAndLuna #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #EstatePlanningWithFexingo #RetirementAccounts

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In this episode of Estate Planning with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore the Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT), a powerful strategy to transfer your home to heirs at a reduced gift tax cost while retaining the right to live in it. They break down how the IRS Section 7520 rate affects the valuation, using a concrete example of a $2 million home with a 10-year term. Lucas explains the mechanics, tax benefits, and the critical risk: if the donor dies during the trust term, the home returns to their estate. He also discusses ideal candidates—those with appreciating homes and low interest rates—and how a QPRT can be combined with other estate planning tools. This episode provides actionable insights for homeowners looking to pass wealth efficiently.

#QPRT #QualifiedPersonalResidenceTrust #EstatePlanning #GiftTax #Trust #RealEstate #WealthTransfer #TaxStrategy #IRS #7520Rate #Home #IrrevocableTrust #WealthManagement #Finance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #EstatePlanningWithFexingo #LucasAndLuna

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the directed trust, a modern estate-planning tool that lets you separate the roles of investment management and distribution decisions. Unlike a traditional trust where one trustee does everything, a directed trust allows you to appoint an investment advisor to handle assets while a different trustee oversees distributions. This can be especially useful for wealthy families who want professional money management without giving up control over who gets what and when. Lucas explains how directed trusts work, including the use of trust protectors and exculpation clauses, and walks through a real-world example of a family business owner who used a directed trust to keep the company in the family while avoiding trustee liability. Luna asks about common pitfalls, such as the need for clear language in the trust document and the risk of the investment advisor overstepping. They also discuss how directed trusts differ from traditional discretionary trusts and why they are becoming more common in states like Delaware and Nevada. By the end, you'll understand whether a directed trust might be right for your own estate plan.

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When one spouse isn't a US citizen, the unlimited marital deduction vanishes. Lucas and Luna break down the Qualified Domestic Trust, or QDOT—a little-known tool that lets cross-border couples defer estate tax on assets left to a non-citizen spouse. They walk through a concrete example: a US citizen married to a UK citizen with a $15 million estate, explaining how the QDOT works, the rules on principal distributions, and why having a US trustee is critical. This episode fills a gap for globally mobile families who want to keep their wealth intact across borders without an unexpected tax bill.

#QDOT #QualifiedDomesticTrust #EstatePlanning #NonCitizenSpouse #MaritalDeduction #CrossBorderWealth #USCitizen #UKCitizen #TrustLaw #EstateTax #TaxDeferral #Finance #WealthManagement #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #EstatePlanningWithFexingo #InternationalTax #Trustee

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Choosing the right trustee is one of the most consequential decisions in estate planning. Lucas and Luna compare corporate trustees (banks, trust companies) against individual trustees (family members, friends), using a real-world example of a $5 million trust that went sideways when the named individual trustee faced a divorce and bankruptcy. They walk through the key trade-offs: fiduciary standards, cost, continuity, and human judgment. If you're drafting a trust or serving as a trustee, this episode gives you a practical framework for making the call. No ads, no fluff — just actionable estate planning insight.

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the charitable remainder trust (CRT) — a powerful strategy that lets you donate assets to charity, receive lifetime income, and bypass capital gains tax when selling appreciated property. Using a concrete example of a family with a $2 million block of low-basis stock, they walk through how a CRT works, the income tax deduction it generates, and the annuity options (CRAT vs. CRUT). They also compare it to a donor-advised fund and highlight pitfalls like the 10% remainder rule and trust administrative costs. Perfect for anyone considering a six-figure gift or just curious about tax-advantaged giving.

#CharitableRemainderTrust #CRT #CRAT #CRUT #TaxPlanning #EstatePlanning #CharitableGiving #CapitalGains #IncomeTaxDeduction #AppreciatedAssets #WealthTransfer #Philanthropy #DonorAdvisedFund #Finance #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #EstatePlanningPodcast

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Episode 129 of Estate Planning with Fexingo explores the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT), a powerful estate planning tool that lets you remove assets from your taxable estate while keeping your spouse as a discretionary beneficiary. Lucas breaks down how a SLAT works, using a concrete example: a couple with a $15 million estate, where moving $5 million into a SLAT can save roughly $2 million in estate taxes. Luna challenges whether the loss of direct control is worth it, and they discuss the risks of divorce and the 'reciprocal trust' doctrine. This episode is perfect for married couples with significant assets who want to reduce estate taxes without locking away all their wealth. The hosts also explain why they keep the show ad-free and invite listener support at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo.

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