Consumer Reports Recommends American Academy

The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys was recommended in the January 2009 Consumer Reports Money Adviser newsletter. The article “How to Avoid Inheritance Feuds” focuses on techniques for avoiding conflict after a loved one passes away. The article recommends using the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys as a source for selecting a qualified estate planning attorney. The article also warned consumers to be explicit in their will in order to avoid disagreements. Other advice included deciding what is fair for each heir versus just dividing assets evenly and to keep everyone in your family informed of decisions beforehand.

Consumer Reports Money Adviser is an independent, non-profit newsletter that offers expert advice.

Click here to find out why our American Academy membership is so important to our firm and the many families we provide guidance to each year.

  Money Magazine Recognizes American Academy!

In the January 2009 issue of Money Magazine, Walecia Konrad’s article entitled “Keep It In The Family” focuses on making sure the wealth you’ve worked so hard to accumulate will go to the people you love. The article recommends the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys as a source to find an estate planning attorney who can tailor a plan for your situation and address your state rules. It also includes a useful estate planning checklist and valuable tips for putting together a proper estate plan that will safeguard your hard-earned assets from estate taxes, lawsuits and probate. This is the fourth time in 16 issues the American Academy has been recognized. Click here to find out why our American Academy membership is so important to our firm and the many families we provide guidance to each year.

  American Academy Mentioned in Money Magazine!

Robert Armstrong, President of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, was interviewed by Money Magazine senior writer Penelope Wang for her article " A Midlife Money Checkup" in the March 2008 Issue. The article was part of the Cover Story "A Boomer's Guide to Financial Freedom" that included multiple articles focusing on financial trends, aging well and other issues Baby Boomers are facing today. This is the third mention of the American Academy of Estate Planning by Money Magazine in the last seven issues.

The "Midlife Money Checkup" is a nine-step test that highlights questions Boomer's should be asking themselves at this point in their lives. Mr. Armstrong's expertise in estate planning was highlighted in question five, "Is your estate plan in order?" Make sure you don't have to ask yourself that question by meeting with a qualified attorney.

  American Academy Recommended by Nationally Syndicated Talk Show Host

The John Tesh Radio Show recommended the Academy as a resource for finding an estate planning attorney. The segment focusing on money and finance originally aired in September 2007 and was repeated in December 2007. Mr. Tesh recommended that listeners go to the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorney’s website to find a qualified estate planning attorney in their area. The Academy website is also recommended on his site.

The John Tesh Radio Show airs on 260 stations across the United States and Canada with an audience of over 8 million listeners. John Tesh is known as a popular television host, singer and syndicated talk show host.

  American Academy Mentioned in Money Magazine

The September issue of Money Magazine has an article entitled,"20 Timeless Money Rules." Rule 17, Exiting Gracefully, is particularly significant because it emphasizes the importance of putting together your estate plan. The recommendation of Money Magazine is that you search for a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys: "To find a lawyer, ask friends and colleagues for recommendations or get referrals online at the website of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (aaepa.com)." The American Academy is an exclusive membership organization for law firms dedicated to estate planning. We are proud of our Academy membership and pleased to be one of only four law firms in Northern and Central New Jersey accepted into this prestigious organization. For more information about why our membership is so important to your family, click here.

ESTATE PLANNING NEWS
 Gifting to Children
This article examines gifting strategies for transfers in trust to minors. Specifically, it looks at Crummey trusts and 2503(c) trusts and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

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ESTATE PLANNING NEWS
 Waiting to Roth: Hidden Loophole for High-income Earners
The article explains a few different types of retirement plans and then looks at a loophole for high-income earners to make contributions to a non-deductible IRA now and then convert it to a Roth IRA in 2010, when income limits for such conversion are lifted.

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CLIENT NEWSLETTERS
 Your Estate Matters Newsletter, Vol. 13.1

Articles included in this issue:

• The Value of Your Treasures
• Theres Nobody Home
• What is Probate – and Should You Care About It?
• Home $weet Home
• Whats in a Legacy?
• Uninsured in America
• To Have or Not to Have?
• For Best Results Exercise Early

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EDUCATIONAL ALERTS
 Drafting Spousal Trusts to Reduce Estate Taxes
This article examines various strategies using a marital trust and bypass trust. It also looks at using a marital trust to preserve assets of the pre-deceasing spouse in a second marriage situation.

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EDUCATIONAL FYIs
 Senate Resolution Freezes Estate Tax for Two Years
Senate Resolution 21, 110th Cong. 1st Session, passed the Senate by a vote of 91 - 1.

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