Over/Under Population – Predictions versus Reality
The doomsayers always have dire predictions. Meanwhile, life and culture shifts outside of the matrix.
From: Minute Earth. Check out the quick and informative videos posted!
Do You Need a Trust to Protect Your Farm?
Like any good lawyer, the first answer is always, “It Depends.” However, before jumping into a Trust there are a lot of other options to consider.
First – let’s set some parameters for this discussion: if the value of all of your assets is more than the estate tax exemption (for 2023, that is $12.92M or $25.84M for a married couple), then effective planning can be much more complicated and beyond the scope of this article. For purposes of this article, we are assuming that your combined net worth is less than the exemption amount, so we can make use of several techniques that are relatively easy to implement.
Let’s (briefly) talk about the two primary kinds of trusts – Revocable and Irrevocable.
Like the name suggests, a Revocable Trust can be revoked or changed at the whim of the Settlor (the person who creates the trust – in this case, YOU). It is not “irrevocable” until your death. This is useful for easy transition to the next generation and avoids the somewhat time-consuming and cumbersome journey through Probate. It is fairly easy to set up, with the most complicated feature being remembering to put all (or almost all) of your assets into the Revocable Trust as you continue on your life journey.
If a Revocable Trust is a good idea for your planning, I don’t recommend putting your farm assets in the TRUST. Instead, I recommend creating a Limited Liability Company or other entity to hold the farm assets, and then your Revocable Trust can own the entity. The entity is free to continue farming as before, the “public-facing” entity is not a “trust” (more business-like appearance), and it is much easier to divide ownership shares between heirs than acres (or tractors).
A Revocable Trust does not save estate taxes, which is why you should seek other planning if you have a net worth in the Estate Tax Danger Zone (ETDZ).
An Irrevocable Trust cannot be revoked and has only limited ability to change. It is a completed “gift” of your assets to the Trust. Those assets must be appraised and a gift tax return filed, which will erode (reduce) your available estate tax exemption. Because I try to build as much flexibility as possible into my clients’ estate plans, this is not (typically) a good tool for folks not in the ETDZ.
There are other planning tools that might be easier to transfer assets to the next generation if your assets are not an active farm business. For example, if you cash rent all of your land (or farm on the shares), or for other assets like investment accounts, a “Transfer on Death” (TOD) ownership will retain 100% of ownership in your hands and control, but at your death, the asset automatically transfers to the named beneficiary. This technique works for any asset that does not already have a beneficiary designation (such as an IRA). TOD ownership can be used for real estate, investment accounts, automobiles, and anything with a “title” or “named” ownership. You can even use it for “non-titled” personal property, like artwork, furniture, and household goods, if you set it up correctly.
When you talk to your attorney, be sure that your advisor reviews the available options with you. If you go to an attorney and say “I want a Trust,” the attorney should spend some time reviewing other available options with you. If not, then please talk to another attorney. I have seen too many clients who have trusts that are not useful to the client’s estate planning goals – and some with harmful (with a tax burden or impact on family harmony) and unintended consequences. Be sure you understand the options and are comfortable that a Trust is right for you.
Drone Delivery – Medical Supplies in Rwanda
THIS is what technology can do – delivery of medical supplies in remote areas of Rwanda and the application of drone delivery of medical supplies on a commercial scale. Definitely worth the watch. Good context and information about the country.
Post-High School Choices – College or Internship?
WSJ Article states, “More Students Turning Away from College and Toward Apprenticeship,” reflects a growing trend in the post-high school education market. The “College for All” model of the past century has been eroding for the past few decades as crushing student debt, lack of employment (or employ-ability), and unmarketable degrees have created a host of “BA Baristas” (as on commenter noted).
Our K12 schools are also starting to lean to that trend and provide more trade and trade school preparation as part of the curriculum offerings, and connections with local community colleges for dual-credit programs leading to certification upon graduation from High School.
Today’s High School students must be given an opporunitthe enormous range of choices outside of a university setting.
Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas
A Lesson in Neutrality – Switzerland
Check out this very interesting video about the “culture of bunkers” in Switzerland. The journalist, Johnny Harris, goes into the history, the passion, and the current position of Switzerland as a neutral nation – and how bunkers have become an integral part of Swiss culture. Grab a coffee and dig in.
Just Say No – To Plastic
Single-use plastic is one of the biggest contributors to landfills and trash pollution. [National Geographic: Great Pacific Garbage Patch]. We’ve all heard of “microplastics” by now [NOAA: What are Microplastics?], and plastics can be found in measurable amounts in US waterways and water-sourced foods [USGS: Microplastics in Our Nation’s Waterways].
I could go on with the citations, but you get the idea, and this is probably not news to you.
What can you do about it? Start making a habit of avoiding plastic.
Avoid: Plastic bags for purchases, plastic containers for take out (or “doggy bags”), overly-packaged items (always encased in plastic).
Biggest thing to avoid? Plastic drink containers, especially water bottles. [Earth 911: Who are the Biggest Plastic Polluters 2021].
While corporations (see above image) are by far the largest polluters, individuals can help to move the needle toward conservation and reduction of pollution by taking consistent action to avoid contributing to the problem, and encouraging others to join in.
TrashBlitz Austin used volunteers to collect and count trash to come up with a way to reduce the use of plastic in the city of Austin. 70% of the trash picked up consisted of single-use plastic items. One of the outcomes of this effort was the Austin Reuse Coalition with a focus on helping restaurants reduce the use of plastic.
Please do your part to reduce use of plastic, and encourage others to do so, also. If everyone eliminated plastic bottles and plastic bags from their lives, there would be an immediate and visible reduction in pollution. It has to start somewhere – let it start with us.
#breakfreefromplastic
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Veterans!
Scam Alert – IRS Scam Calls and Texts are on the Rise
I received a text message from the IRS this week, “threatening” to levy against my assets if I did not call a number immediately. Of course, it was a scam – my phone flagged it – but I also routinely get voice messages on my landline threatening the same thing, including repeated threats of arrest if I don’t call back right away.
If you owe money to the IRS, your first encounter will not be a phone call or text message. It will be a letter explaining what the IRS thinks you have done and telling you how to respond.
Never give out personal information or financial information over the phone. If someone demands payment “right now,” tell them so send you a letter (but don’t give out your address), and you will give it to your attorney to handle.
Call your attorney or tax preparer if you have any questions. Sometimes it’s legit – but phone calls and text messages demanding payment are SCAMS.
