With only a few days remaining in 2019, Congress passed the groundbreaking SECURE Act, which affected many changes to the retirement planning landscape, most notably the elimination of the traditional “stretch IRA.” As many estate and financial planning professionals know, the stretch IRA is an invaluable tool that allows non-spouse beneficiaries of retirement plans (401(k),…
Author: Sean Rice

An Introduction to ABLE Accounts
On December 3, 2014, Congress passed the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, or as it’s more commonly known as, the ABLE Act. The ABLE Act authorized a new type of tax-favored savings account for blind or disabled individuals with a qualifying disability incurred prior to age 26. As of January 1, 2018, these individuals…

Special Needs Planning 101: Why you should act NOW
“In 2015, U.S. health care costs were $3.2 trillion. That makes health care one of the country’s largest industries, equaling to 17.8% of gross domestic product (GDP). In comparison, health care costs were $27.2 billion in 1960, just 5% of GDP.” 1 “Advocacy group Autism Speaks reports that the cost of caring for a person…

Choosing a Trustee: Pro vs. Average Joe?
From the perspective of a trust officer, the benefits of a professional trustee are endless and obvious. Professional asset management, trust administration, and tax planning are the most commonly cited, but they don’t even scratch the surface in terms of the full job description. With such a wide array of services provided, we at Garden…