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Top 10 2013 Estate Planning Strategies: Beyond the Obvious



Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Product Code - TMW62
Speaker(s): Alan S. Gassman; Kenneth J. Crotty; Christopher J. Denicolo; and Thomas J. Ellwanger, Gassman Law Associates, P.A.
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Alan S. Gassman, Kenneth J. Crotty, Christopher J. Denicolo and Thomas J. Ellwanger will provide a practical discussion of the top 10 estate planning strategies and changes to pre-existing arrangements that clients and advisors should consider in light of the enactment of the America Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) that extended the $5,250,000 gift and estate tax exclusion indefinitely, and made other significant and unexpected changes to the tax law.

During the 90 minute presentation, Mssrs. Gassman, Crotty, Denicolo and Ellwanger will discuss the changes to the tax law brought about by ATRA, what clients and their advisors can do to take advantage of the opportunities created by the new tax law and potential traps for the unwary.

Discussion will also include coverage of the following topics:

  • Planning considerations for estate, tax, and financial planners;
  • An action item checklist for implementing new planning strategies and restructuring pre-existing arrangements;
  • The hybrid “asset protection dynasty trust,” and how it can be an excellent planning tool for many clients;
  • The resurgence of joint revocable trusts as a popular and appropriate estate planning mechanism;
  • The advantages of an income tax “stepped-up” basis, and how to maximize “stepped-up basis” on death;
  • Problems with using portability vs. credit shelter trust funding; and
  • Possible changes to the estate and gift tax law, including the loss of valuation discounts, restrictions on the efficacy of grantor trusts for estate planning purposes, and limitations on grantor retained annuity trusts and qualified personal residence trusts.

Please plan to join us for this presentation on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. EST.

Educational Objectives

  • Review recent changes to the tax law, and an action item checklist to help assure that clients’ estate and business plans are appropriately structured;
  • Understand the various alternatives for making best use of having a $5,250,000 per person gift, generation skipping and estate tax exemptions;
  • Become conversant with the primary rules, opportunities and limitations with respect to important 2013 income, estate and gift tax laws;
  • Evaluate potential strategies to take advantage of planning opportunities created by the 2013 tax law;
  • Understanding drafting trust techniques by which a “step-up” in basis can occur on the death of the surviving spouse; and
  • Learn how funding a credit shelter trust on the death of the first dying spouse can provide significantly better results than relying on portability. 

Alan S. Gassman; Kenneth J. Crotty; Christopher J. Denicolo; and Thomas J. Ellwanger, Gassman Law Associates, P.A.

Alan S. Gassman, J.D., LL.M. is a practicing lawyer and author based in Clearwater, Florida. Mr. Gassman is the founder of the firm Gassman Law Associates, P.A., which focuses on the representation of physicians, high net worth individuals, and business owners in estate planning, taxation, and business and personal matters. He is the lead author on Bloomberg BNA’s Estate Tax Planning and 2011 and 2012, Creditor Protection for Florida Physicians, Gassman & Markham on Florida and Federal Asset Protection Law and A Practical Guide to Kickback and Self-Referral Laws for Florida Physicians. Mr. Gassman is a frequent speaker for continuing education programs and publishes regularly for Bloomberg BNA Tax & Accounting, Leimberg Estate Planning Network (LISI), Estates and Trusts Magazine, Estate Planning Magazine and the Gassman Law Associates, P.A. weekly Thursday Reports which can be found on the firm's website. He holds a law degree and a Masters of Law degree (LL.M.) in Taxation from the University of Florida, and a business degree from Rollins College. Mr. Gassman is board certified by the Florida Bar Association in Estate Planning and Trust Law, and has the Accredited Estate Planner designation for the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils.

Kenneth J. Crotty, J.D., LL.M. is a partner at the Clearwater, Florida firm of Gassman Law Associates, P.A., where he practices in the areas of estate tax and trust planning, taxation, physician representation, and corporate and business law. Mr. Crotty has co-authored several handbooks that have been published in BNA Tax & Accounting, Estate Planning, Steve Leimberg’s Estate Planning and Asset Protection Planning Newsletter, Estate Planning magazine, and Practical Tax Strategies. Mr. Crotty is also the author of the Limited Liability Company Chapter of the Florida Bar’s Florida Small Business Practice, Seventh Edition. He, Alan Gassman, and Chrisopher Denicolo are the co-authors of the BNA book “Estate Tax Planning in 2011 & 2012”.

Christopher J. Denicolo, J.D., LL.M. is a partner at the Clearwater, Florida law firm of Gassman Law Associates, P.A., where he practices in the areas of estate tax and trust planning, taxation, physician representation, and corporate and business law. He has co-authored several handbooks that have been featured in Bloomberg BNA Tax & Accounting, Steve Leimberg’s Estate Planning and Asset Protection Planning Newsletter, and the Florida Bar Journal. He is also the author of the Federal Income Taxation of the Business Entity Chapter of the Florida Bar’s Small Business Practice, Seventh Edition. Mr. Denicolo received his B.A. and B.S. degrees from Florida State University, his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, and his LL.M. (Estate Planning) from the University of Miami.

Thomas J. Ellwanger, J.D., is a lawyer practicing at the Clearwater, Florida firm of Gassman Law Associates, P.A. Mr. Ellwanger received his B.A. in 1970 from Northwestern University and his J.D. with honors in 1974 from the University of Florida College of Law. His practice areas include tax and estate planning, trust and estate administration, charitable planning and business law. Mr. Ellwanger is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).