Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial

About the Author

Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial

Gavin Morrissey is the director of advanced planning at Commonwealth Financial Network, member FINRA/SIPC, a registered investment advisor, in San Diego, Calif.

He can be reached at gmorrissey@commonwealth.com.

• Estate Planning: Interest Rate Drop Enhances Wealth Transfer Opportunities

  By Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial, Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial  |  July 20, 2010

  With the AFR near historical lows, wealth transfer beckons; for GRATs, act before the estate tax kicks in again.

• Preparing for the Coming Tax Increases

  By Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial  |  June 15, 2010

  With increases looming, wealth managers need to help clients be aware and plan for the inevitable.

• Bull Run in Equities Ignites Charitable Planning Opportunities

  By Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial, Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial  |  May 17, 2010

  Accompanying the recovery in equity prices is a renewed level of client confidence--and a desire to resume financial planning that had fallen by the wayside.

• Estate Planning in Uncertain Times

  By Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial, Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial  |  March 19, 2010

  These days, thanks to a surprising twist in tax law, wealth managers are faced with a new level of uncertainty when it comes to the wealth transfer needs of their clients.

• Could the Roth Conversion Be an Estate Planning Opportunity?

  By Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial, Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial  |  February 16, 2010

  2010 provides wealthy clients with a chance to implement planning that until now had been unavailable to high-income earners: a Roth IRA conversion.

• Estate Taxes and the Carryover Basis

  By Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial, Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial  |  January 18, 2010

  The repeal of the estate tax aside, 2010 introduces the concept of a carryover basis. The assets owned prior to death are no longer stepped-up to the fair market value at the date of death or the alternate valuation date.

• Income Tax Planning with Pooled Income Funds

  By Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial, Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial  |  December 14, 2009

  Estate tax reduction, no setup fees and income and capital gains advantages can make this charitable choice a workhorse for some clients.

• Leverage in Life--and Death

  By Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial, Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial  |  November 16, 2009

  The competition to attract business from the desirable high-net-worth niche is fierce, and wealth managers must continually find ways to differentiate themselves to capture their...

• Why Now Is a Good Time to Review Clients' Charitable Giving Strategies, Especially Private Foundations

  By Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial, Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial  |  October 21, 2009

  Gavin Morrissey finds it understandable that clients would want to reduce their charitable giving in difficult times.

• Are There Still Wealth Transfer Opportunities for Clients?

  By Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial, Gavin Morrissey, JD, LLM, Commonwealth Financial  |  September 21, 2009

  The "perfect storm" resulting from reduced asset values and historically low interest rates can become very effective wealth transfer strategies.