Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.

About the Author

Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.

Robert Bloink is a professor of tax for the Graduate Program of International Tax and Financial Services, Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Previously, he served as Senior Attorney in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, Large and Mid-Sized Business Division, where he litigated many cases in the U.S. Tax Court, served as Liaison Counsel for the Offshore Compliance Technical Assistance Program, coordinated examination programs audit teams on the development of issues for large corporate taxpayers, and taught continuing education seminars to Senior Revenue Agents involved in Large Case Exams. In his governmental capacity, Mr. Bloink became recognized as an expert in the taxation of financial structured products and was responsible for the IRS’ first FSA addressing variable forward contracts. Mr. Bloink’s core competencies led to his involvement in prosecuting some of the biggest corporate tax shelters in the history or our country.

 

Mr. Bloink's insurance practice incorporates sophisticated wealth transfer techniques, as well as counseling institutions in the context of their insurance portfolios and other mortality based exposures. 

• The Life Insurance Fiscal Cliff: No Tax Preference Is Safe

  By Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., William H. Byrnes, Esq.  |  December 6, 2012

  The potential elimination of many tax preferences currently afforded life insurance is one facet of today’s fiscal cliff discussions that is often overlooked. In today’s political environment, no tax preference is safe.

• Compromise Time? Eliminating the Fiscal Cliff With Current Tax Rates

  By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.  |  November 21, 2012

  The presidential election is behind us but the clock is still ticking on tax increases scheduled to take effect January 1. One solution involves capping deductions while reducing tax spending for all taxpayers.

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  Retirement Planning for Next Four Years Under President Obama

  By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.  |  November 13, 2012

  With the election behind us, it’s time for your clients to turn their attention to the looming tax reforms that should take shape over the next two months—and how these reforms can affect their retirement planning.

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  How New Deferred Annuities Provide Income Early in Retirement

  By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.  |  November 8, 2012

  Creating products to provide sustainable retirement income for the diverse group of baby boomers just entering retirement has presented a big challenge for insurance companies, but they’re stepping up.

• Does the 4% Rule Still Hold? Shaping Healthier Retirement Income Planning

  By Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., William H. Byrnes, Esq.  |  October 30, 2012

  Changing times and increased market volatility have clients wondering—is there a better way?

• Maximizing Charitable Giving Through Universal Life Insurance

  By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.  |  October 23, 2012

  Avoiding the complications of estate taxation and the U.S. probate system may be key reasons to allow high-net-worth foreign clients to include sizable charitable donations in their estate planning.

• The Ticking Estate Tax Time Bomb: Less Than 90 Days of Planning Remain

  By Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., William H. Byrnes, Esq.  |  October 16, 2012

  For your clients who have been playing the wait-and-see game in estate planning this year, the time for waiting is over.

• The Rose’s Thorn: Increasing Premium Rates for Hybrid Life Insurance-LTC Policies

  By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.  |  October 10, 2012

  Premiums for long-term care insurance have increased dramatically in recent years, causing clients to turn to hybrid policies that, unlike traditional long-term care policies, are certain to provide some type of future benefit.

• Critical Illness Riders: Life Insurance Protection for the Living

  By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.  |  October 5, 2012

  A new twist on the traditional life insurance policy that protects against expenses incurred because of critical illnesses is attracting clients’ interest once again.

• Recharacterizing Roth IRAs: It Might Still Make Sense

  By Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., William H. Byrnes, Esq.  |  September 24, 2012

  Looming tax increases for 2013 provided your clients with motivation to convert their traditional IRAs into Roth IRAs last year. It is important to re-examine those conversions before this year’s recharacterization deadline.