If you have named your children as beneficiaries of your qualified plans (IRA, ROTH, 401k, TIAA-CREF, etc.), you have likely made a mistake. An outright beneficiary designation needlessly exposes the IRA to your children’s spouses, to their creditors and future inheritance and estate taxes. Since 2006 Congress has provided the tools necessary to protect your children.
In 2006 Congress required that all qualified retirement plans—including IRAs, SEP-IRAs, 401(k) plans, and 403(b) plans—must allow naming an IRA Trust as a beneficiary. By doing so, Congress allows you to form an IRA Trust for your child that allows the Inherited plan to remain tax-deferred.
Because your child does not own the Inherited IRA, the trust provides shelter from your child’s creditors as well and divorce complications. Further, the IRA Trust excludes the IRA from your child’s estate for death tax purposes. As a bonus, you may dictate that any amount remaining at your child’s death passes to your grandchildren, thereby avoiding your daughter-in-law or son-in-law.
The IRA Trust provides tremendous benefits for your kids with little ongoing costs if the child serves as the trustee.
In short, IRA Trusts provide huge benefits at low cost. The reason you have not heard about them is likely because the rules surrounding IRAs are very involved, which cause many professionals to avoid the issue. This avoidance could cost your family dearly.
If you have any questions about IRA Trusts or any other estate planning topics, please contact our office to schedule a free consultation. For more than two decades Klenk Law has focused only on Estate Law. We’ve seen it all, and this experience allows us to explain complex estate planning techniques clearly and concisely. We make it easy for you to understand IRA Trusts and estate planning so you can make the best decisions for yourself and your family.
Peter Klenk is the founding member of Klenk Law, a seven attorney boutique estate planning law firm. We serve clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and Florida. Peter Klenk received his Masters in Taxation LL.M. from NYU Law School and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. He served his country in the Navy JAGC during Desert Storm. Easy to talk to, feel free to call Peter for an appointment. We will make the process as easy as possible!
"I worked for Peter Klenk for 4 wonderful years. I can’t speak highly enough of everyone at the firm. Everyone truly cares about their clients and has a strong sense of responsibility to get things done right. I would highly recommend Klenk Law!"
Flora Novick
Peter explained things in a way that was easy to understand. Everything was done in the time frame he said it. Could not have been better!
I've worked with and known Peter Klenk and his associates for years. They are highly professional, diligent and truly experts in their field. By focusing on just wills, trusts, and estates, Klenk law has experienced every angle of estate planning and applied that knowledge to help prepare our clients with thorough and comprehensive documents.
Peter explained a complex subject very clearly, helped us to decide the best approach to managing our estate and then made it very easy for us to execute the required documents. He will be a valuable resource for years to come and clearly has a great understanding of estate law that will lead to innovative solutions for us. I would unhesitatingly recommend him for estate planning.
I was referred to Peter after my divorce to put documents together to protect my assets. He suggested a number of documents that would help protect my children and their future. Also, he put together wills, power of attorney and living wills. I initially spoke with him on the phone, he took 30-40 minutes to understand my situation and explain the benefits of having such documents. After a week or two, I met with him in his office and signed the documents. Everything else was remote phone calls and emails. He re-explained these documents and what whom to share. I am in good hands.
Peter is a model attorney who puts his clients first at all costs. His extensive expertise in estate planning and tax planning was a great comfort as we began, and have expanded, our family. He is very thoughtful, generous, and quick witted. His approach towards his business has been an inspiration to his peer group, and his zest for life is extremely infectious. Without reservation, I highly recommend Peter as trusted and cherished counsel
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