Newsletter Issue 5: The Estate Tax: "I'll Be Back!"

“Like mothers, taxes are often misunderstood, but seldom forgotten.” – Lord Bramwell Read the Strauss & Malk LLP Newsletter: Issue 5: The Estate Tax: “I’ll Be Back!” by Michelle Gooze-Miller. January 2010 Read More
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Categories: Newsletters

Newsletter Issue 3: Illinois Expands Statute to Amend Trusts

“A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years mere study of books.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Read the Strauss & Malk LLP Newsletter: Issue 3: Illinois Expands Statute to Amend Trusts. November… Read More
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Newsletter Issue 2: The Last GRAT

“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things.” – Bruce Barton Read the Strauss & Malk LLP Newsletter: Issue 2: The Last GRAT. July 2009 Read More
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Categories: Newsletters

Newsletter Issue 1: Illinois Estate Taxes: It Isn't Always Pretty

“Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin “But we can help with the latter….” Benton C. Strauss Read the Strauss & Malk LLP Newsletter: Issue 1: Illinois Estate Taxes: It Isn’t Always Pre… Read More
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Categories: Newsletters

Creative Use of Stock Options Within a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT)

This article summarizes a stock option strategy within a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT). While the contents of this article were originally prepared in May 2004 when the §7520 hurdle rate that is necessary for the GRAT to be successful was 3.… Read More
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Categories: News and Articles

Zeroed Out Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts

Because of a recent development in the law, an old technique is now more valuable for estate tax reduction planning. This technique is a grantor retained annuity trust (“GRAT”) established in such a manor that the gift has little or no value for… Read More
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IRS Changes in the Tax Treatment for a Split-Dollar Life Insurance Plan (“Split-Dollar Plan”)

In January 2002 the IRS issued a brief Notice outlining new tax rules for the taxation of Split-Dollar Plans. The Notice followed earlier attempts by the IRS to modify the Split-Dollar rules. The rules published in the Notice were a departure from th… Read More
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Categories: News and Articles