At Phillips Ballenger, we believe that proper estate planning is essential in avoiding probate. Probate, a process regulated by statutory guidelines and applied through the courts, is triggered when an individual dies without a trust. This process, like other forms of litigation, can be long, arduous, and sadly, adversarial. This week, we give you an introduction…
Continue reading…Category: Businesses & Corporations
Celebrity Estate Planning Mistakes – UPDATE: Aretha Franklin Did Not Have a Will!
Large and complex estates are not always adequately planned for. The most recent example of this is the unfortunate passing of famous vocalist, Aretha Franklin. At 76, the singer’s illustrious career is left, vulnerable to the effects of probate, because no will or trust document was left to allocate her assets (link). Unfortunately, her heirs…
Continue reading…Think your company qualifies for a small business tax break? It’s complicated…
by Marcy Gordon, Associated Press August 10, 2018, USA Today WASHINGTON — Architects and engineers are still in. Accountants, doctors and lawyers remain out — mostly. New rules floated by the Trump administration lay out what kinds of businesses can take a 20 percent deduction against income taxes under the new tax law. With the proposed…
Continue reading…Back-to-School Checklist: A Reminder to Reassess your Financial Planning (Part 2)
For many families, this week marks the beginning of a new school year. This week, we continue with the academic theme, and give you Part 2 of the Back-to-School Checklist. In this final segment, we are discussing the importance of updating your trust documents and planning for the holidays. Update Your Trust Documents Established revocable…
Continue reading…Celebrity Estate Planning Mistakes
Just like regular people, celebrities also fail to adequately plan for their estate. Estate planning is a vital tool that provides guidance in the event of a death. It is a common belief that because celebrities have much more wealth than the average person, protecting that wealth would be of the utmost importance. However, there…
Continue reading…I Do…But First Sign Here: Prenuptial Agreements, Postnuptial Agreements, Cohabitation agreements
Deciding whether to sign an agreement as it pertains to your relationship can be difficult. Generally, this is not a one-size fits all type of decision, and the necessity is different for every couple. Pre, Post and Cohabitation agreements are very useful for business owners, blended families, individuals with complex financial arrangements, etc. Regardless of…
Continue reading…Avoiding Entrepreneurial Burnout
Entrepreneurs typically embody ambition, drive, and passion. However, entrepreneurs often burn out quickly. Why does this happen? In short, they give too much of themselves to their venture; if it fails or if they face road-blocks, it may be difficult (mentally and/or financially) for them to keep going. Maintaining high levels of enthusiasm is hard…
Continue reading…5 Simple Steps to Start a Business… Creating a Business Plan
Have you ever considered or are you considering starting your own business? The process can be daunting, tumultuous and confusing… However, if done right, starting your own business can be simple, efficient, exciting- as well as lucrative & fulfilling! Tiffany Ballenger Floyd, a Nevada attorney who works with new & experienced business owners offers this…
Continue reading…The Proposed GOP Tax Overhaul: A Summary of its Key Points for Nevada Families & Businesses (Part 2)
Part 2: Corporate/Business Taxes, Estate Tax, & Miscellany Corporate Taxes: Big Corporations would likely see a substantial tax reduction: one of the bill’s biggest aspects, and perhaps the most controversial, is the permanent reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%- the largest one-time drop in big-business tax rate in history. Although the…
Continue reading…The Proposed GOP Tax Overhaul: A Summary of its Key Points for Nevada Families & Businesses (Part 1)
Part 1: Individual Taxes There are a huge variety of factors to weigh in trying to figure out whether individuals/households would see an increase or decrease in their tax rate. According to the bill’s supporters, most Americans are likely to see a small reduction of taxes under the plan; however, many Americans will see an…
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