A wise man once said, “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me.”
The fact of the matter is that we work hard our entire lives to accumulate wealth knowing full well that we can’t take it with us when we are gone. So why do we continue to build wealth? Studies have shown that as much as people build wealth for independence and stability, they have an equal desire to use their wealth for the benefit others, i.e.: creating a better life for their heirs or donating to the less fortunate. Notice there was no reference to taxes. When we die, our wealth can go to three places:
1. People (loved ones)
2. Charity
3. Taxes
The reason I list them in this order is because, with careful planning, options 1 and 2 can be maximized. Option 3 is the catch-all bucket – whatever you don’t plan for, the government will gladly collect on. So, what are the five simple strategies that can help you keep your wealth?
1. Create a plan and educate heirs
Money Magazine did a study in 2015 stating that 70% of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation, and 90% by the third. This has to be the highest priority to ensure wealth is kept and not spent. Be deliberate in including your family members and heirs in your wealth plan. Implement a routine family board meeting to review important topics, such as the family budget, investment portfolio, goals, and objectives. Opening the lines of communication will develop trust and curiosity that will ultimately give your wealth meaning and purpose in the eyes of the heir(s). Without attaching a purpose to their inheritance, you run the risk of it going to waste because the money doesn’t represent anything more than dollars and cents. If you need a facilitator, there are family advisors and consultants available who can help develop guidelines for an effective family board meeting.
2. Annual Gifts
Assuming you have effectively educated your heirs, you can begin gifting to them. The 2020 annual gift exclusion is $15,000, meaning you can give a loved one $15,000 and $30,000 annually if you are married without tax implication. This can be a great way to gift to your heirs while you are alive and able to see the fruits of your generosity.
3. Roth Conversions
With recent rule changes (Secure ACT) regarding inherited IRAs, beneficiaries can no longer “stretch” their inherited retirement accounts. This means accounts must now be completely disbursed by December 31st of the 10th anniversary. A Roth account is a tax-free account, meaning you pay the taxes for your heirs today and invest the proceeds tax-free forever. This takes the stress away from beneficiaries having to plan for future tax payments, especially if the retirement accounts transferred have significant dollar values.
4. Family Lending
If your belief is that making money helps you appreciate money, then you might forego the gifting route and look to provide family members with credit opportunities. The IRS has provided special interest rates for intra-family lending called Applicable Federal Rates, which are considerably lower loan rates than traditional financial institutions would offer. This option also offers the convenience of avoiding traditional underwriting. Be sure to properly document the loan and structure based on IRS guidelines.
5. Irrevocable Trusts
This is the most effective strategy to minimize estate tax implications. There are many different types of irrevocable trusts available: irrevocable grantor trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, charitable remainder annuity trusts, and spendthrift trusts to name a few. The purpose of these trusts is to create an entity to hold appreciating assets where they can grow and accumulate without negatively impacting your estate exemption. The federal estate exemption limit for 2020 is $11.58MM per person. Anything exceeding that amount will be subject to a steep federal estate tax. Removing highly appreciating assets can ensure that any future growth will be excluded from your estate while still providing flexibility for you to access cash flow if necessary. These trusts can be highly complicated and should always be considered with legal and professional counsel.
Remember, these strategies must be implemented while you are alive in order to be effective. The earlier you start, the more likely you will be able to effectively minimize your estate tax burden and ensure your family’s wealth goes where you want it to go.
William Wang, CFP®
President, HFG Trust
Wealth is often built with others in mind, to leave behind a legacy that will pass on from one generation to the next.
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