Many clients and friends understand the logical rationale for purchasing long term care insurance.  However, many people never actually follow through and acquire coverage.  Due to this trait, there exists major "unintended consequences" for family members and business partners/ employees.

Some simple but important information regarding your documents:

• Don't write on them
• Don't hide them
• Be careful about signing beneficiary designations on certain assets as to their relationship to your overall document planning.

With the increased estate tax exclusions being doubled, some clients are losing incentives/ deductions for charitable gifts. There is a way to still get deductions, but you take these deductions against taxable income instead of against your estate. The charitable remainder trust enables this tax planning tool to help you.