Estate Planning

As the population ages, more and more family business will be faced with the dilemma of how to pass the family business on to the next generation. In addition, the phenomenal fluctuations in the stock market in recent years have created the need for proper planning to secure your investments and assets for long term financial security. With the uncertainty of future estate tax rates, the potential cost to a family estate can be significant. Through proper estate planning, family businesses, farms and other assets can be preserved by minimizing the effect of estate taxes. We can help with the planning and administration of estates and trusts in areas such as:

• Credit-shelter (family) trusts
• Gift planning
• Family limited partnerships
• Charitable trusts
• Irrevocable life insurance trusts
• Post-mortem estate planning
• Estate administration, accounting and reporting requirements
• Preparation of estate taxes (form 706)
• Estate and trust income tax returns (form 1041)

As your financial advisor, Smith, Koelling, Dykstra and Ohm is uniquely qualified to assist you and your attorney with the estate planning process. SKDO is already familiar with your financial situation and can therefore provide valuable insight toward achieving your estate and financial planning goals.