Establishing Proper State Taxation of Non-Resident Trusts

By The Wealthcounsel   The United States Supreme Court rarely addresses trusts and estates issues. The purview of the states, issues arising in intergenerational wealth transfers, are generally outside federal jurisdiction. To reach the U.S. Supreme Court, trusts and estates cases typically involve federal preemption or the constitutionality of a state’s law; the latter has…

House Opens Door For Blue Water Veterans: Will The Senate Close It?

In our February 13th newsletter we reported on the court of appeals win in favor of Alfred Procopio Jr., who served on the USS Intrepid during the Vietnam War and had suffered illnesses from being in contact with agent orange.  This court ruling opened the door for other “Blue Water Veterans” to hold claim to benefits denied them…

VA Quarterly Progress Report

The VA released their quarterly report last this month amidst a brewing capital hill fight.   Do the VA reported numbers reflect the timelines that your clients are seeing with VA pension applications?  What are you most concerned about when it comes to VA Pension? Beginning in June Veterans will be able to make the choice…

Doris Day: ‘Que Sera, Sera’

Doris Day, the iconic actress that brought comedy and poise to the big screen, passed away surrounded by her family and friends Monday morning.   This, according to her long time manager and friend Bob Bashara, was how she wanted it.  No funeral, no headstone, no memorial, just an intimate last moment with those she held…

Are Auctions Worth The Gamble?

The Green children were close with their Aunt throughout their life.  She would tell them little about their family legacy accept that Uncle Andrew had been the one accumulating the boxes that filled her home.  They had never met Uncle Andrew and often questioned where he placed in the family tree.  When their Aunt passed…

Deferment Might Derail Claims

Many long-term care facility and in-home care provider companies have been fronting the cost, or a portion of the cost, of veteran residents pending an Aid and Attendance pension benefit.  Providers that defer payment while a veteran or their spouse transition to long-term care could be setting veterans up for failure. VA pension benefits are…