2025 Field Guide to Estate Planning

The 2025 Field Guide to Estate Planning, Business Planning & Employee Benefits provides a ready means of identifying and understanding the concepts and techniques used in estate planning, retirement planning, business planning and employee benefits. The 2025 edition has been completely reorganized. The topics previously covered in Part IV have been incorporated into the four main areas so there is no longer a need to flip back and forth in the book. Numerous drawings and charts have been updated or new charts are included to assist readers in identifying and understanding the concepts most frequently encountered when working with clients. The 2025 Field Guide is valuable as an easy desktop reference or a classroom training aid.

New in the 2025 Edition:

• Detailed analysis of the provisions and ramifications of SECURE Act 2.0, including:
  • changes to the RMD dates
  • reduction in penalties for failure to take RMDs
  • RMD calculation option for partial annuitization
  • new exceptions to the 10% early distribution penalty
  • changes to qualified charitable distributions
  • alterations to the qualified longevity annuity contract premiums
• Update on the Department of Justice's new fiduciary rules
• The latest state laws on intestate succession
• Analysis of the Supreme Court's recent decision in Connelly v. United States, involving a situation where a closely held corporation purchased life insurance on the lives of key shareholders
• The latest Health Savings Account limits
• Revised summaries of income tax, capital gains tax and estate inheritance tax in every state

Key Topics covered:

• SECURE Act and SECURE Act 2.0
• Estate, gift, and income tax planning strategies
• Business valuations and transfers
• Employee compensation and benefit planning
• Asset protection strategies
• Insurance products and risk management techniques
• Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid eligibility and benefits
• Fringe benefits
• Trust structures and trust planning
• Corporations and pass-through entities