The Complete Living Trusts Program [Paperback]

Martin M. Shenkman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 2000

* Avoid probate
* Manage and protect assets through disability
* Eliminate the need for a court-appointed guardian
* Avoid living trusts hype


AVOID THE BALONEY, PUFFERY, AND SNAKE OIL
OR HOW TO BEST UTILIZE LIVING TRUSTS
FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR HEIRS

A properly arranged living trust can be an invaluable estate and financial planning tool that ultimately insures your assets will reach heirs as quickly and cost effectively as possible. Unfortunately, this is more difficult to accomplish than it should be. The misinformation surrounding living trusts is staggering. Many trusts are poorly written, shamefully mismanaged, and improperly used. But even when correctly planned, a

living trust is not necessary or beneficial for everyone. How do you decide if it's the right thing for you? And how do you do it right? Get informed.

In this comprehensive book, attorney Martin M. Shenkman guides you through the confusion to gain an understanding of the process that will help you avoid pitfalls, taxes, liability manipulation, and wasted money. Here are steps to:
* Minimize probate abuse
* Minimize living trust abuse
* Protect yourself from the legal and financial ravages of disability
* Distinguish the hucksters from the real expert advisers
* Use a living trust as part of a complete estate plan to reach all your personal goals
* Avoid the need for a court-appointed guardian
* Save taxes
* Decipher documents


. . . and much more. Using sample checklists, and numerous real-life examples, Shenkman provides a balanced view of living trusts that will clarify what you do and don't need.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

• Avoid probate
• Manage and protect assets through disability
• Eliminate the need for a court-appointed guardian
• Avoid living trusts hype

AVOID THE BALONEY, PUFFERY, AND SNAKE OIL
OR HOW TO BEST UTILIZE LIVING TRUSTS
FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR HEIRS

A properly arranged living trust can be an invaluable estate and financial planning tool that ultimately insures your assets will reach heirs as quickly and cost effectively as possible. Unfortunately, this is more difficult to accomplish than it should be. The misinformation surrounding living trusts is staggering. Many trusts are poorly written, shamefully mismanaged, and improperly used. But even when correctly planned, a

living trust is not necessary or beneficial for everyone. How do you decide if it’s the right thing for you? And how do you do it right? Get informed.

In this comprehensive book, attorney Martin M. Shenkman guides you through the confusion to gain an understanding of the process that will help you avoid pitfalls, taxes, liability manipulation, and wasted money. Here are steps to:

• Minimize probate abuse
• Minimize living trust abuse
• Protect yourself from the legal and financial ravages of disability
• Distinguish the hucksters from the real expert advisers
• Use a living trust as part of a complete estate plan to reach all your personal goals
• Avoid the need for a court-appointed guardian
• Save taxes
• Decipher documents

. . . and much more. Using sample checklists, and numerous real-life examples, Shenkman provides a balanced view of living trusts that will clarify what you do and don’t need.

About the Author

MARTIN M. SHENKMAN CPA, MBA, JD, is a practicing attorney specializing in tax laws and investments. He is frequently quoted in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Bottom Line. He lives in New Jersey, and is also the author of twenty-five books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471361054
• ISBN-13: 978-0471361053
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #310,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Martin M. Shenkman, Esq.
Martin M. Shenkman, P.C.
P.O. Box 1300
Tenafly, New Jersey 07670
201-845-8400
[e-mail]


BIOGRAPHY

Martin M. Shenkman, CPA, MBA, JD, is an attorney in Paramus, New Jersey and New York City. His practice concentrates on estate planning and administration, tax planning, and corporate law.

Mr. Shenkman was included in Worth Magazines top 100 attorneys in 2007, CPA Magazines Top 50 IRS practitioners in 2008, Top 40 Tax Accountants in 2009, and was the recipient of the New Jersey Bar Association's Alfred C. Clapp Award in 2008.

He is a source for numerous financial publications including Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Money, and The New York Times. He has appeared on numerous television shows including The Today Show, CNN, NBC Evening News, CNBC, MSNBC, and CNN-FN .

He has published 36 books and 700+ articles. His recent books include Estate Planning for People with Chronic Illness and Disabilities (Demos); Estate and Related Planning During Economic Turmoil (AICPA) and Life Cycle Planning for the CPA Practice (AICPA), The Complete Book of Trusts (Wiley), and others.

Mr. Shenkman was named by Worth Magazine as one of the Top 100 attorneys in 2007, by CPA Magazine as one of the top 40 accountants in 2008 and 2009.

He earned a BS in economics - Wharton, MBA - University of Michigan, law degree - Fordham University, and is admitted to the bar in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. He is a CPA in New Jersey, Michigan, and New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Comprehensive Review of the Basics of Estate Planning, December 19, 2010

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This review is from: The Complete Living Trusts Program (Paperback)

If you want to understand the basic foundation of estate planning, this is the book for you. Martin Shenkman discusses many of the concepts that Certified Financial Planners must understand to effectively work with their estate planning clients. The book assumes that the reader has some familiarity with the basic principles of estate planning such as wills, probate, and gift and estate taxes. The book gives sound advice to help the reader decide what level of estate planning is appropriate for their individual circumstances. In some cases, a simple will may be all that you need, but others may benefit from a revocable AB marital trust. Other more advanced estate planning ideas are also discussed (insurance trusts, multi-generation trusts) for those with larger estates or a family business that they want to pass on to the next generation. The book does not discuss every possible technique in estate planning, but provides a fine overview of the range of techniques available. Also, the book does not provide a way for you to write your own will or trust, as Mr. Shenkman strongly advises that you seek competent legal advice to prepare these all important legal documents (very good advice indeed!)

The current edition of this book was published in 2000 and is obviously a bit out-of-date with the new and evolving estate tax legislation. However, the techniques discussed in this book will very much have application in the latest changes of estate tax legislation.