Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

  • Apple
  • Android
  • Windows Phone
  • Android

To get the free app, enter your email address or mobile phone number.
Download to your computer
Kindle Cloud Reader

Estate Planning Smarts: A Practical, User-Friendly, Action-Oriented Guide, 2nd Edition 2nd Edition Edition

by
Deborah L. Jacobs (Author)
› Visit Amazon's Deborah L. Jacobs Page
Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
See search results for this author
Are you an author? Learn about Author Central
Deborah L. Jacobs (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 19 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0615453668
ISBN-10: 061545366X
Why is ISBN important?
ISBN
This bar-code number lets you verify that you're getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. The 13-digit and 10-digit formats both work.
Scan an ISBN with your phone
Use the Amazon App to scan ISBNs and compare prices.
Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
More Buying Choices
8 New from $25.50 24 Used from $4.53 1 Collectible from $29.95
33 used & new from $4.53
See All Buying Options
Free Two-Day Shipping for College Students with Amazon Student Free%20Two-Day%20Shipping%20for%20College%20Students%20with%20Amazon%20Student

Plan Your Estate by Denis Clifford Attorney
"Plan Your Estate" by Denis Clifford Attorney
Protect your family with solid estate planning. Learn more

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.
Back
  1. Plan Your Estate
    Denis Clifford…
    4.6 out of 5 stars 19
    Paperback
  2. Estate Planning Basics
    Denis Clifford
    4.6 out of 5 stars 51
    Paperback
  3. The Smartest Retirement Book You'll Ever Read
    Daniel R. Solin
    4.4 out of 5 stars 83
    Paperback
    $9.08 Prime
  4. Your Estate Matters: Gifts, Estates, Wills, Trusts, Taxes and Other Estate Planning Issues
    Patti S. Spencer
    4.9 out of 5 stars 11
    Paperback
    $26.95 Prime
  5. Estate Planning For Dummies
    N. Brian Caverly
    3.6 out of 5 stars 32
    Paperback
    $13.51 Prime
  6. JK Lasser's New Rules for Estate, Retirement, and Tax Planning
    Stewart H. Welch III
    4.7 out of 5 stars 10
    Paperback
    $19.95 Prime
Next

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested In These Sponsored Links

  (What's this?)
NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE

Product Details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: DJWorking Unlimited Inc.; 2nd Edition edition (April 15, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 061545366X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0615453668
  • Product Dimensions: 1 x 6 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #887,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested In These Sponsored Links

  (What's this?)

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsTerrific Book
By Deborah J. Merritt on December 11, 2009
Format: Paperback
This is a terrific book--the perfect guide for anyone who cares about their loved ones, financial security, or personal legacy. And who doesn't? As Jacobs explains in this highly readable book, estate plans aren't just for the rich. Many of us have more assets than we realize: a home, a retirement plan, life insurance, and family keepsakes. With the recession, it's more important than ever to preserve those assets for ourselves and loved ones.

The tax rules affecting these simple assets are more complex--and unforgiving--than most people realize. Many workers, for example, name their "estate" as the beneficiary on retirement plans. That's a mistake even my highly educated father made. Jacobs explains that this designation raises income tax bills for your heirs--even if your estate is small enough to escape the estate tax. Savvy planners name their heirs directly as beneficiaries of the retirement plan, leaving more money for the heirs and less for Uncle Sam.

"Estate Planning Smarts" is full of tips like this. And Jacobs presents her advice clearly, compassionately, and pragmatically. She guides readers through the human side of estate planning, as well as through the financial aspects. Sidebars offer interesting examples, while a detailed glossary explains puzzling terms. Jacobs even includes advice on how to find a lawyer, and she directs readers to other books, websites, and software.

This book is a treasure! Buy it and pass your own treasure on to the people and causes you love.
Comment 33 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent Resource
By Gerry W. Beyer on February 18, 2010
Format: Paperback
Estate Planning Smarts eases the reader into a subject that is often difficult by focusing on an underlying purpose of estate planning: taking care of yourself and those you love. In this context, the Ms.Jacobs discusses the documents and tools that make-up an estate plan, the estate tax, and different assets and family situations that affect planning. All the while, the book uses language that both a lay person and an estate planner can understand and appreciate.

Ms. Jacobs divides the book into chapters by relevance to the reader, making it easy to find a particular topic or read the entire book without feeling overwhelmed. Each chapter is further subdivided by descriptive headings so as to give the reader a roadmap for that particular topic. Within each chapter, colored blocks set-off useful "to-do" lists, real-life examples, charts, and tables. The back of the book contains a 20-page glossary of estate planning terms and a list of resources for further understanding and action. Updated chapters to the book will be provided online at [...], insuring that the reader stays up-to-date.

Deborah Jacobs uses her prior years experience of writing in this field to create a book that really is practical, user-friendly, and action-oriented. Because the book uses an easy-to-read format, explains complex topics simply, and prompts the reader to think about and organize for effective estate planning, Estate Planning Smarts is a great book for estate planners to make available to new clients in need of a basic information.
Comment 22 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent book!
By Amazon Shopper on December 2, 2010
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This is an excellent introduction to estate planning and administration. It is pitched at a much higher level than the comparable "dummies" book, yet it remains easily accessible. This books is especially important given all the shifts taking place in estate taxation, developments the author updates deftly on her website. Reading this book now will help you avoid enormous difficulties as well as unnecessary legal expenses later. Highly, highly recommended.
Comment 14 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
4.0 out of 5 starsBASIC ESTATE PLANNING BOOK
By J. LEVIN on March 24, 2010
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
"Estate Planning Smarts" is a basic guide to the concepts of Estate Planning.

Please be aware of the following:

1) This book is NOT an in depth guide to the intricacies of Estate Planning.

2) I recommend that you buy four to five books to understand the concepts of Estate Planning. This would be Book One of the five books. The goal is to understand the intricacies of Estate Planning and be knowledgeable before consulting your Attorney.

3) When you become knowledgeable, from the books and on line sources you consult,
only then consult your Attorney to make certain that everything is legally correct.

Note: Once again, "Estate Planning Smarts" is only a basic book on this topic. You will for a certainty need other reference books and other resources.

Good luck to all!
Comment 25 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsGood, practical advice
By Tax Accountant on April 17, 2010
Format: Paperback
This book is a very good introduction to estate planning for the average person. It is well thought out, and has very practical advice for the average person. Some of the best advice is for families, especially those with young children.

The author stresses the point repeatedly that parents must be prepared to provide for their children and make their final wishes clear. Otherwise family bickering can make a difficult time even harder when loved ones are forced to speculate what the wishes of their deceased loved ones were.

I would reccommend this book to anyone who wants practical advice on estate planning and is not sure where to start.
Comment 15 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsEssential reading for anyone who expects that someday he or she may die
By JM on November 19, 2011
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Over the years, I have received very conflicting advice from financial planners and attorneys about how best to title assets, name beneficiaries, and structure an estate plan. I bought this book in order to make sense out of the differing and confusing advice I was receiving. What I found was a very easy to read, thorough, logically presented, enjoyable, and action-oriented overview of the importance of estate planning, decision making guidelines for wills and inheritance, the tax system, protecting and providing for partners and children, trusts, retirement accounts, life insurance, health care and education, protecting one's homestead, gifts to family & charities, asset protection, and a host of other critical topics that affect us all (regardless of income or assets). Interestingly, I learned that the likely reasons for the differing advice I've received is not that some was necessarily right and some wrong but, rather, that the best way to do things depends on a complex mixture of (differing) state laws, continuous changes in federal tax laws, specific individual circumstances, and even getting the balance right between minimizing tax liability and maximizing asset protection from creditors. The information I learned from this book will now help me to make the best decisions for my particular circumstances by knowing the right questions to ask, by being aware of the complexities involved, and by understanding why it is so important to work closely with an attorney (not just a financial advisor) who is an expert in estate planning in my particular state. Overall, essential reading while we still can!
Comment 15 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse

Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 starsThe book is good for yesterday

The book is good for yesterday. I thought I was getting the latest edition with current estate requirements . I didn't.

Published 10 months ago by Peter Katchis
5.0 out of 5 starsBook

This product arrived on time and was everything I wanted. Great book!

Published 13 months ago by T. J. Wendt
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great advice and planning tool

Published 21 months ago by G. Baroni
5.0 out of 5 starsEstate Planning is something I need to learn more about, this Gal is a...

Estate Planning is something I need to learn more about, this Gal is a subject matter expert! IT serves to he purpose for now, as far as I can tell. Read more

Published on April 5, 2014 by Solarsouls
5.0 out of 5 starsVery efficient practical guide

A very efficient practical guide that has plenty examples of what not to do when planning an estate. The Tax planning aspect is also invaluable.

Published on August 5, 2013 by JAMES HANSON
5.0 out of 5 starsgreat reference

This book is a must for anyone who wants to leave more of what they've earned to those they'd like to leave it to!

Published on August 3, 2013 by Anne
2.0 out of 5 starsPoorly bound Book

You will be popping back and forth quite a bit in this heavily cross-referenced book - be forewarned that the binding (spine) of ours fell apart within a week of normal use,... Read more

Published on July 12, 2013 by Chemfree
5.0 out of 5 starsGood

Excellent.
Very practical and user friendly.
Great for begginners for students and professionals.
Very useful i love it.
With it I understand alot.

Published on May 19, 2013 by Frances Devaris
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat information

Would still go to a lawyer for Estate planning, but helps to read this book prior to meeting with attorney. Read more

Published on May 10, 2013 by Yolanda Blalock
4.0 out of 5 starsGood book, but you still need an expert

This book clearly articulated the issues I should consider in developing an estate plan, with a lot of good information about what should go into a living trust. Read more

Published on March 22, 2013 by Stalwart

There's a problem loading this menu right now.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.



Pages with Related Products. See and discover other items: accounting information systems