Tax strategy that holds up outside of April. This section covers donating appreciated assets instead of cash to avoid capital gains tax, and the estate planning basics most people under 40 skip — and shouldn't.
A trust's legal home state doesn't have to be yours. That fact is why Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Delaware dominate estate-planning conversations — and why Montana usually doesn't make the list.
"Do I need a trust?" is usually the next question after someone writes a will. With the estate tax exemption now $15 million per person, the honest answer has less to do with taxes than most people assume.
Selling a losing position to offset a gain sounds simple. The wash-sale rule, the $3,000 annual limit, and a handful of timing traps are where most people get it wrong.
Selling appreciated stock to donate the cash triggers capital gains tax you didn't have to pay. Donating the asset directly avoids it entirely.
56% of Americans still have no estate plan in 2026. Here's what a basic estate plan actually requires — and why it has nothing to do with how much money you have.