Trust Fundamentals: A Practical Primer for Tax Practitioners (Currently Unavailable)

Author: Steven G. Siegel

CPE Credit:  2 hours for CPAs
2 hours Federal Tax Related for EAs and OTRPs
2 hours Federal Tax Law for CTEC

Develop a Practical Understanding of Trusts and How They Can Benefit Your Clients

Trusts can be among the most useful instruments available to the tax, financial and estate planner — and they may be created for a variety of reasons, some of which relate to performing functions and providing protections for the beneficiary, and others of which relate to saving income and estate taxes or avoiding probate. Unfortunately, many tax and accounting professionals have only limited formal knowledge about the roles, types and uses of trusts — even though they are becoming increasingly popular vehicles to transfer and protect wealth and are becoming more commonly encountered in general tax practice.

Presented by noted estates and trusts practitioner, author and educator, Steven G. Siegel, J.D., LL.M., this two-hour CPE course provides a practical primer on trusts, identifying and describing the most commonly used trusts, and explaining how they are used to achieve a range of objectives for clients. This insightful session is designed for the tax practitioner with a beginner's knowledge of trusts and how they can be used to preserve, protect and transfer wealth. Mr. Siegel will discuss the fundamental concepts, terminology and uses of trusts and explore the advantages and disadvantages of different types of trusts, so you feel more confident in your basic practical knowledge in client discussions regarding trusts.

You won't want to miss this program with Mr. Siegel, an outstanding speaker and presenter, and his practical explanations, tips and suggestions on trusts. All tax preparers, accountants, attorneys and financial planners who advise clients on tax, financial and estate matters will benefit from Mr. Siegel’s discussion and the comprehensive and detailed outline he has prepared for your later study and reference.

Publication Date: February 2018

Designed For
This course is essential for CPAs, tax preparers, accountants, enrolled agents, tax attorneys and other professionals who advise clients on tax, retirement and estate planning, and other wealth management matters.

Topics Covered

  • What trusts are and how they function
  • Key trust terms and definitions you need to know
  • Most commonly used trusts
  • Common scenarios and circumstances where trusts are used
  • Who the parties to a trust are — trustor, grantor, settler, donor, trustee, beneficiary, etc.
  • Pluses and minuses of different types of trusts
  • How trusts are created
  • How funds get into and out of trusts
  • Tax planning and compliance considerations with trusts
  • Potential impacts from Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
  • Key problems that tax practitioners may encounter with client trust-related matters, and more!

Learning Objectives

  • Develop a solid base of knowledge related to trusts
  • Describe the different types and basic uses of trusts for clients
  • Recognize the advantages and disadvantages of different types of trusts
  • Differentiate types of trusts and when to utilize each type
  • Describe the disadvantages of setting up a living trust to your client
  • Recognize the characteristics that apply to the irrevocable lifetime insurance trust (ILIT)
  • Identify exclusion amounts for different trusts
  • Recognize how to best advise clients on which trust would be best to set up
  • Describe changes that are now applied to an ESBT under the 2017 tax law
  • Differentiate GRAT and GRIT

Level
Basic

Instructional Method
Self-Study

NASBA Field of Study
Taxes (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
None

Advance Preparation
None

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