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. 

• IRS Untangles One Transfer-for-Value Rule Trap

  By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.  |  September 19, 2012

  Preferential tax treatment and the flexibility to restructure allocations in estate planning simply don't mix well when it comes to investing in life insurance. A recent IRS private letter ruling could help change that.

• Indexed Annuities Gather Steam

  By Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., William H. Byrnes, Esq.  |  September 12, 2012

  The rate at which indexed annuity product features have been changing in recent months can be dizzying to even the most seasoned financial producers, but client interest has never been greater.

• Permanent Life Insurance: A Smarter Investment Product?

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

  For those clients who have grown weary of the fluctuating market for stocks and bonds, the steady returns offered by so-called “permanent” life insurance policies may be the solution.

• Life Settlements—Are They Back?

  By Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., William H. Byrnes, Esq.  |  August 27, 2012

  One question financial advisors should be asking themselves today is whether life settlements have returned to the fold as a viable tool in their clients’ planning strategies.

• Turning Your 401(k) Into a Pension: The DC-to-DB Rollover

  By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.  |  August 20, 2012

  The IRS has recently blessed another option for your clients who are competing to maximize guaranteed lifetime income during retirement—the 401(k)-to-pension-plan rollover.

• When Clients Get Lump-Sum Pension Offers (Like GM and Ford), What to Advise?

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

  It’s not just the automakers—an increasing number of your clients may need to choose between a lump-sum payout from their pensions and the traditional annuity option. How should you advise them?

• FINRA Fee Increases May Raise Sticker Price on Financial Advice

  By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.  |  August 1, 2012

  FINRA’s proposed 25% increase in fees on financial service firms may become a reality within the next few months, and it is important that all financial advisors stop and take note of the potential consequences.

• HSAs Losing Luster Under Obamacare

  By Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., William H. Byrnes, Esq.  |  July 27, 2012

  HSAs are about to lose much of their value under the PPACA, which will impose minimum reimbursement rates on all health insurance plans—ensuring that premiums for high-deductible plans will increase.

• Preparing Clients for Reality of Obamacare Investment Tax

  By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.  |  July 20, 2012

  An additional 3.8% tax on investment income will be implemented in less than six months, and your high-income clients will need advice on how to reposition their investments to minimize its effect.

• A Package Deal: Planning for Long-Term Care With Income Security

  By Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., William H. Byrnes, Esq.  |  July 15, 2012

  A type of fixed annuity could provide the solution for clients who are looking to plan for long-term care and receive a guaranteed return on their investment.