Blogs

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  What Advisors Don’t Know About Variable Annuities: VA Mechanics

  By Mike Henkel, Achaean  |  April 2, 2013

  To understand how VAs differ and where they fit in a client’s portfolio, first understand their common traits, like how a guaranteed withdrawal rate actually works.

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  Taxes and the States: Which Take the Biggest Bites?

  By Mike Patton  |  April 1, 2013

  Governments are always looking to tax, and in these states, you can expect to find steep taxes on wireless services, lottery winnings, property and more.

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  Gas and Cigarettes: The Tax Sticks That Keep On Hittin’

  By Mike Patton  |  March 25, 2013

  A look at how federal and state taxes hit car owners and smokers: are they meant to change behavior or just raise revenue?

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  An Overlooked Way of Using the Tax Code for Social Policy

  By Mike Patton  |  March 18, 2013

  We know the mortgage interest deduction encourages homeownership, but what are the benefits of the depreciation allowance for rental properties?

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  Wrapped Up in a Blanket: Pros and Cons of Family Blanket Policies

  By Kathleen Tierney, Chubb  |  March 17, 2013

  Family blanket policies can provide great peace of mind, consistent coverage and flexibility for HNW families, but know their limitations, like spread of geographic risk.

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  ESOPs: Great Tax-Wise for Business Owners, but Beware the DOL

  By Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., William H. Byrnes, Esq.  |  March 13, 2013

  Your small-business-owning clients may be looking for ways to reduce or defer the taxes they will incur should they sell their business. An ESOP strategy can work well, but be wary of DOL inquiries.

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  The U.S. Tax System: How Did We Get Here? Pt. 2, the Middle Years

  By Mike Patton  |  March 12, 2013

  From the first U.S. default during the Revolutionary War to the first income tax during the Civil War to the 16th Amendment, taxes have been a source of contention.

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  Protecting Life Insurance Beneficiaries From a Windfall

  By William H. Byrnes, Esq., Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M.  |  March 5, 2013

  Do your clients want to control how their beneficiaries get death benefits? A new trend in product offerings may be of service.

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  The U.S. Tax System: How Did We Get Here? Pt. 1, the Early Years

  By Mike Patton  |  March 4, 2013

  In tax season 2013, a look back at the very beginnings of taxation in the U.S., and Americans' attitudes toward taxes.

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  Trusts and LLCs: Smart Ways to Transfer Wealth and Risk, but Mind the Details

  By Kathleen Tierney, Chubb  |  February 21, 2013

  There are many intelligent reasons to transfer high-value assets to a trust or LLC, but there’s a devil lurking in the details, specifically the insurance considerations.