Who knows where the estate tax limits will fall in 2011.  It might be 1 million or 3.5 million or higher depending on how the legislators settle on this issue. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Congress is trying to put limits on a popular trust families have used for years to avoid the estate tax.

Since this type of trust works best at times when interest rates are low and asset values are depressed, we are urging high net worth clients to look at setting one of these up before Congress decides to make these trusts look like a rainy day in the tax world.

This type of trust is known as a GRAT or grantor-retained annuity trust, which allows people to give a portion of an asset’s future profits to heirs tax-free. The trusts we have found can be very popular for clients who have a family business that is expected to increase in value or may have stock they believe will substantially appreciate over the next few years.

It’s no secret as we have discussed many times at YourSmartMoneyMoves that Congress will have to raise revenue.  Raising income taxes isn’t the only solution. Congress is seeking to impose restrictions on GRATs. It would require that the trusts remain in place for a minimum of 10 years where some of these trust can be as short as two years. That would make them less useful for people with shorter life expectancies. The reason: If a GRAT owner dies before the trust expires, its entire value generally becomes subject to the estate tax.

The new legislation as currently written wouldn’t impose a 10-year minimum term on GRATs already in existence. Thus, time is of the essence to get these done and in place if they make sense for your situation.  With interest rates as low as they are today, GRATs are especially attractive. Shares in family limited partnerships and privately held companies also are good candidates. In part because such investments can’t be easily traded, they can often be put into a GRAT at a discount to their true values such as a family business.

Is this a ‘GRAT’ idea for your family? Visit us to request your FREE consultation today.

oXYGen Financial, Inc. co-CEO Ted Jenkin  is one of the foremost knowledgeable professionals in giving financial advice to the X and Y Generation.

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Ted Jenkin, CFP®, AAMS®, AWMA®, CRPC®, CMFC®, CRPS®

Co-CEO and Founder oXYGen Financial, Inc.

Request a FREE consultation: www.oxygenfinancial.net

11680 Great Oaks Way, Suite 175 | Alpharetta, GA 30022

Phone 1.800.355.9318 or 770.777.0427

TED JENKIN IS SECURITIES LICENSED THROUGH INVESTACORP, INC. A REGISTERED BROKER/DEALER MEMBER FINRA, SIPC.  ADVISORY SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH INVESTACORP ADVISORY SERVICES, INC. A SEC REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISORY FIRM. Linked sites are strictly provided as a courtesy. Investacorp, Inc., and its affiliates, do not guarantee, approve nor endorse the information or products available at these sites nor do links indicate any association with or endorsement of the linked sites by Investacorp, Inc. and its affiliates.