By: Randall A. Denha, Esq.*** Estate plans for married clients typically provide first for the surviving spouse, in a manner that avoids estate tax at the first spouse’s death and minimizes that tax at the second spouse’s death. This is often accomplished by including technical and often lengthy “marital deduction formula clauses” in the will…
Six beverage items, three snacks, and one tobacco product are included in SymphonyIRI Group’s list of the top new c-store items for the 13 weeks ending June 24, 2012. Leading the way are two SKUs of AB InBev’s Bud Light Lime-A-Rita, which rolled out in April. Both 12-packs and 24-ounce cans of the margarita-flavored alcohol…
July 3, 2013By Michael Cohn: ACCOUNTING TODAY The Obama administration has decided to postpone the employer responsibility payment and insurance reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act for one year to give businesses more time to comply with the health care reform law. “The Administration is announcing that it will provide an additional year before the ACA…
By: Randall A. Denha, J.D., LL.M. Toward the end of 2012, many families with wealth tied to a family business were faced with a choice: 1) avail themselves of the expiring $5.12 million estate and gift tax exemption by gifting interests in their family businesses; or 2) maintain the status quo and risk losing the…
Within the past 30 days, the cost of WTI crude oil increased 15% to top $108 per barrel. Every time gasoline prices increase more than a few pennies in a week, drivers start wondering what’s going on. Last week, the cost of gasoline jumped 12 cents, and some analysts say this will continue, KETK-TV reports.…
It’s hot and humid, and summer temperatures are climbing. Unless you’re in an air-conditioned environment, you’re most likely sweating and uncomfortable. You’re probably tiring more easily, and you may be working and moving more slowly, too. What you really need to be concerned about is the heightened risk of heat-related illnesses. According to the Bureau…
The average American consumes around 132 pounds of sugar a year. Probably because it’s hidden in so many processed foods like ketchup, salad dressings, sports drinks and breakfast cereal, not just cookies, candy and pop. Excess sugar has been linked to all kinds of ailments, including obesity, hypertension, high blood pressure, depression, migraines, diabetes and…
MIRA advises gasoline retail members to check for credit card skimming devices. These devices have been place in gas dispensers located on outside lanes or dispensers on the outside rows probably to avoid detection. These devices have been attached to credit card readers within the internal housing of Gilbarco NN1 Encore Pumps. It is believed that these…
By: Randall A. Denha, J.D., LL.M.* Portability means the ability to transfer the federal estate tax exemption from the estate of the first spouse to die to the estate of the second spouse to die. This provision was going to expire this year but did not, so it is still in fact and there is…
By: Randall A. Denha, J.D., LL.M.* Many banks encourage the use of payable on death (“POD”) accounts, in part because such accounts do not have to go through the estate administration process. If someone in a bank asks who should receive a bank account at your death, that bank account is more likely than not…