GMB Ep #96: 5 Year End Financial Moves to Make With the Tax Bill Looming

As we covered in the previous episode of Grow Money Business, the House Ways & Means Committee recently released proposed tax reform legislation that brings significant changes to the current levels of taxation. This week, Grant dives into five strategies you can utilize to take advantage of the substantial changes introduced by the proposed tax bill and reduce your tax liability. Throughout the episode, Grant reviews some of the sections of the tax code that will likely be updated by the new legislation and actions you can take within this year to make the best of the current tax code.

Show Notes

[01:52] Background and Progress – Grant starts the conversation with a brief review of the previous episode, explaining why he believes that the proposed tax bill is more likely to be passed in its current form.

[06:11] Profit Distributions From S-Corps – The new proposed legislation reforms a set of provisions that will tax S-Corporations’ profit distribution at a higher rate. Grant emphasizes the necessity of delaying expenses and increasing the income for this year.

[08:51] Estate Taxation – Grant dives into the effects of the proposed provisions for estate taxation, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and how to take advantage of the current thresholds and exemptions

[13:15] Grantor Trust – The proposed legislation includes some provisions that take away some of the planning opportunities related to trusts that are currently available for taxpayers. Grant shares his take on how to prepare for these upcoming changes.

[18:14] Family Limited Partnership – Grant shares his thoughts on taking advantage of a family limited partnership’s marketability and minority ownership discounts for estate planning.

[23:22] Roth Conversions – The new legislation comes with several changes to the Roth conversions. Grant discusses the importance of the pro-rata rule, which you need to keep in mind if you’re planning to do a Roth conversion of pre-tax dollars.

[33:01] High-Income Earners – High-income earners will have to pay higher tax rates with the proposed tax bill. Grant scrutinizes the necessity of having fewer deductions to increase the income under the current tax rate.

Resources

Ep #95 – We Have a New Tax Bill [And It’s a Whopper]
growmoneybusiness.com/podcast/we-have-a-new-tax-bill-and-its-a-whopper

GMB Ep #95: We Have a New Tax Bill [And It’s a Whopper]

The House Ways & Means Committee recently released proposed tax reform legislation that brings major changes to the current levels of taxation, including reversals of several provisions introduced in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. We dedicated this episode to exploring what this new proposal includes and some of the key aspects of the proposal that may interest our listeners. Throughout the episode, Grant dives deep into proposed provisions related to retirement, new tax brackets, business tax, tax on cryptocurrency, estate planning, and more.

Show Notes

[02:19] Background and Progress – Grant starts the conversation with a brief review of what led to this new proposed piece of legislation, its current status, and the path to getting it signed into law.

[08:16] Roth IRA Conversions – The proposed tax bill calls to prohibit Roth IRA conversions on after-tax contributions, which has been a very convenient maneuver for tax planning. Grant shares his thoughts on what to keep in mind if you’re considering a Roth IRA conversion.

[12:35] High-Income Earners – The new tax bill also brings provisions to restrict high-income earners from doing any Roth IRA conversions starting from 2031. Grant dives into the reasoning behind this, why this provision is proposed to come into effect ten years from now, and some other restrictions that apply to high-income earners.

[16:27] Mandatory Distributions – How the proposed new legislation mandates taking money out of your retirement accounts if the total value of all your retirement accounts exceeds a given threshold.

[20:00] Tax Brackets and Rates – Grant dives into how the tax brackets and applicable tax rates are updated in the proposed legislation and proposed changes to taxation on capital gains.

[27:47] Ultra-high Income – Grant shares his take on the 3 percent surtax proposed to apply for people who make over $5 million.

[29:47] Surtax on Trusts – The proposed legislation also brings provisions to add a surtax on trusts. Grant talks about the proposed tax brackets and rates related to trusts and what you should keep in mind when considering estate planning.

[31:08] Business Tax – How the proposed tax bill affects businesses depending on the type of business entity and some of the planning opportunities that emerge with the new proposal.

[35:35] Business Income Deductions – The new proposed legislation reforms a set of provisions related to business deductions that are introduced in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Grant explains some of these reforms and what business owners should keep in mind about tax planning.

[39:02] Cryptocurrency Assets – Some of the tax-related legislations that apply to other assets such as stocks and bonds do not currently apply to cryptocurrency assets. Grant shares his thoughts on how that may change in the new proposed tax bill and what crypto investors show know about the new tax bill.

[42:26] Estate Planning – Another provision in the proposed tax bill brings some significant changes to taxes related to estate planning. Grant dives into what these updates include and what you should keep in mind about taking advantage of the current thresholds and exemptions.

Resources

https://waysandmeans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-neal-announces-additional-days-markup-build-back-better-act

GMB Ep #94: 4 Tactics for Reducing Capital Gains Taxes on Appreciated Assets

Following the financial crisis of 2009, we entered one of the longest running bull markets in history. During this time, the Federal Reserve has injected a massive amount of US dollars into the monetary system, which has driven up the value of capital assets across the board. If you’re someone who holds equities or other assets at a substantial gain, you might be hesitant to sell them because of tax concerns. In today’s episode, Grant dives into four strategies you can use for exposure to appreciated assets and/or taxation when selling at a gain.

Show Notes

[02:29] Concentration and Risk – Why it’s risky to hold on to assets for too long and why it can be beneficial to repurpose your assets at the right time.

[07:57] Exchange Fund – Exchange funds can be used to diversify your holdings without triggering a taxable event. Grant shares his thoughts on the pros and cons of this method.

[13:28] Options – How to use stock options to reduce the risk of losing the value of your holdings during price fluctuations.

[20:05] Donor-advised Funds – Grant explores how donor-advised funds work and how investors can get tax benefits while contributing to charity.

[28:58] Charitable Remainder Trust – How charitable remainder trusts work, how they differ from donor-advised funds, and how to get started with them.

[34:38] Family & Insurance –Grant shares some ways you can reinvest the benefits of a charitable remainder trust to avoid financial stress within your family.

Resources

Donor-Advised Funds:
irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/donor-advised-funds

Convert Appreciated Assets into Income with a Charitable Remainder Trust:
schwabcharitable.org/maximize-your-impact/develop-a-giving-strategy/align-your-giving-vehicles/charitable-remainder-trust

GMB Ep #91: Why Mutual Fund Managers Are Converting to ETFs

One of the trends we’ve been recently observing is the tendency of mutual fund managers to convert their fund structure to Exchange-Traded Funds. Throughout this episode, Grant reviews the structures of mutual funds and ETFs, what makes them different from each other, the reasons why it makes sense for mutual fund managers to switch to ETFs, and what investors should keep in mind about mutual funds being converted to ETFs.

Show Notes

[01:43] Mutual Funds – Grant reviews how mutual funds are structured and how the mutual fund managers use funds from a group of investors to generate greater returns than what individual investors have the capacity to generate on their own.

[08:42] Limitations – Limitation of mutual funds and how these limitations may create unfavorable situations for mutual fund managers in some scenarios.

[13:50] Understanding ETFs – What led to the creation of Exchange-traded Funds, how they work, and the difference between mutual funds and ETFs.

[21:51] Benefits – Grant dives into the attractive characteristics and tax benefits of exchange-traded funds.

[25:00] Popularity of ETFs – Grant shares his thoughts on how ETFs became popular in the last decade and the trend of some mutual funds being converted to ETFs.

[30:00] Why Investors Should Care – How this trend of mutual fund managers converting their structure to ETFs affects the investors in terms of expenses, taxation, benefits, and what to do if their mutual funds are being converted.

Resources

Investor Bulletin: Mutual Fund Conversion to Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF):
investor.gov/introduction-investing/general-resources/news-alerts/alerts-bulletins/mutual-fund-conversion-exchange-traded-fund

Making the Switch: Turning a Mutual Fund into an Exchange-Traded Fund:
bbh.com/us/en/insights/investor-services-insights/making-the-switch-turning-a-mutual-fund-into-an-exchangetraded.html

GMB Ep #75: The Biden Proposal to Raise Long Term Capital Gains Rates & Eliminate the Step Up In Basis

President Joe Biden’s new proposal for tax reforms has been getting lots of media attention in the past week. It contains provisions to substantially raise the tax rates on long-term capital gains and eliminate the step up in basis. This substantially limits some of the tax planning opportunities investors and business owners have enjoyed for a long time. In today’s episode, Grant reviews the new changes President Biden has proposed, what they mean for investors, and some of the planning opportunities that come with the new updates.

Show Notes

[01:26] New Tax Plan – Grant reviews some of the key goals of President Biden’s new tax plan and what they mean for the general public and investors.

[05:32] Long-term Capital Gains – How long-term capital gains work, how they’re different from their short-term counterparts, and how taxation comes into play.

[08:53] Proposed Rates – Grant reviews the new tax rates proposed in President Biden’s tax plan and new planning opportunities that come with the new changes.

[13:48] Selling a Business – Selling a business is one of the instances where a business owner can end up paying substantial amounts in tax according to the proposed tax rates. Grant shares his take on How business owners can work around this.

[18:30] Step Up in Basis – Step up in basis is a tool widely used by financial planners to minimize the tax impact, and President Biden’s new proposal substantially limits this opportunity. Grant shares his thoughts on how we can adapt to these proposed changes.

[25:47] Estate Planning – How the elimination of step up in basis affects estate planning and how to minimize the tax impact for people who inherit assets.

Resources

Reviewing the Biden Tax Plan
www.abovethecanopy.us/reviewing-the-biden-tax-plan/

GMB Ep #70: Real Estate Syndication With Anthony Scandariato

A real estate syndication is essentially a partnership between a set of limited partners who pool their money together to purchase a piece of real estate they cannot afford on their own. This week on Grow Money Business we have a distinguished guest who has been working on real estate syndications for quite a while. Anthony Scandariato, co-founder and managing principal of Red Knight Properties, joins us today to talk about what you need to know before investing in a real estate syndication.

Show Notes

[02:42] Introduction – What real estate syndication is, how it differs from property management, and available opportunities for investors.

[07:02] Legal Background – Rules, regulations, limitations, and liabilities associated with real estate syndicates.

[10:33] Lifecycle of Investment – The process of setting up a real estate syndication and getting into deals with investors.

[14:54] Sourcing Properties – Anthony talks about his process of finding properties, acquiring them, and preparing for business.

[20:35] Managing Properties – Anthony shares his thoughts on the ideal way to manage the properties and working with tenants to make smooth rent adjustments.

[24:02] Communication with Investors – How general partners maintain the relationship with investors in terms of cash flow, reporting, and profit-sharing.

[27:31] 1031 Exchange – Anthony shares his take on the purpose of the 1031 exchange and why it should not be repealed.

Resources

Discovering Multifamily Podcast – Real Estate For Medical Professionals With Grant Bledsoe

Connect with Anthony

Episode #68: Dissecting the New Stimulus Checks & Recovery Legislation: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law on March 11 to help the United States recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This new legislation includes direct financial payments, extended unemployment benefits, expanded child tax credit, and numerous other provisions. Throughout this episode, Grant reviews several key provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act and what they mean for individuals and businesses.Continue reading→

Episode #66: Yes You Do Need an Estate Plan With Tammi Caress

This week on Grow Money Business we have another distinguished guest: Tammi Caress. Tammi is an estate planning attorney, and the founder of Caress Law, P.C.. Throughout the episode, we dive deep into the process of estate planning, why it’s important for any adult to have an estate plan in place, things to consider when selecting what to include in your estate, and what provisions to include in your plan for both while you’re alive and after you pass. Stay tuned until the end of the episode, where Tammy shares some tips & tricks you can use to minimize estate taxes.Continue reading→

Episode #61: Tax Gain Harvesting: What, Why, and How

Tax gain harvesting is a strategy of selling investment assets at a gain and paying tax at that point as opposed to waiting and paying the tax later. Depending on your income and how your income may fluctuate in the future, there might be situations where it makes sense to take advantage of tax gain harvesting. Throughout today’s episode, Grant reviews how tax gain harvesting works, when it may be and may not be a good idea, and what you should consider before deciding whether tax gain harvesting might be beneficial in your specific scenario.Continue reading→

New Stimulus Checks & PPP 2.0! Everything You Need to Know About the New Stimulus Bill

It’s easy to forget, with everything happening in Washington D.C. in the last week, that we have a new stimulus package. After sitting on the bill for about a week, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act into law in the late hours of December 27th.

It was a massive bill, with many sections other coronavirus related stimulus. I haven’t read the entire Act, and hope that I never do. I have read the sections related to stimulus checks, the paycheck protection program and a few others though, as they relate directly to many of our clients.

This post will cover what you need to know about those sections: whether you’re entitled to a stimulus check and/or PPP loan, when you might receive one, and other relevant details.

Continue reading→