Depending on the amount of your assets when you die, your estate may have to pay federal estate taxes (as well as income taxes and state estate taxes) before those assets can be fully distributed. Federal estate taxes are not only high but they must also be paid in cash, usually within nine months after you die. Few estates have this kind of cash, so assets often have to be sold. Estate planning can substantially reduce or eliminate altogether this kind of tax liability.

Of rising concern to many baby boomers is the toll on their estate from the high costs of a nursing home or other facility they may need to enter at some point. Estate planning helps protect an estate through the use of long-term care insurance.

Estate planning issues are complex. Working with your tax and legal advisors, Pinnacle Wealth & Benefits Strategies, Inc.'s estate planning specialists can help you sort through all of your options. We will help design your plan and update it when necessary. We will coordinate our work with your other financial advisors to ensure that you receive maximum benefit.

Estate planning can also be a valuable component of your benefits offerings for key employees. Pinnacle will help you and your other advisors set up this service for them.

Estate plans vary according to an individual's assets, needs, goals and type of beneficiaries. However, Pinnacle's overall approach is to help you and your advisors:

• Inventory your assets and how they are titled.
• Minimize your total transfer and income taxes.
• Meet your needs for control and cash flow.
• Protect your assets from creditors and long-term care facilities.
• Ensure you have the proper types and levels of insurance.
• Determine your charitable giving goals, if any.
• Transfer assets to your desired beneficiaries and charities.
• Preserve the full value of your business for your family and associates.

Working with your tax and legal advisors, we will help you develop the estate planning documents and other tools necessary for achieving your goals. These may include:

• Basic will.
• Living will.
• Durable power of attorney.
• Gifting without incurring gift tax.
• Marital trust.
• Charitable remainder trust.
• Generation skipping trust.
• Life insurance trust.
• Family limited partnership.
• And more.

You've worked too hard for the assets you've gathered. Don't let them waste away after you die. Work with Pinnacle to establish an estate plan that will provide you, your estate and your beneficiaries with tax and other benefits. Please contact us to begin these important discussions today.