Dear Clients, Colleagues, and Friends,
If you are like most of us, the end of the year means a time for reflection on happenings from 2016 and looking forward to what we can do to make 2017 a great New Year.
2016 has been an interesting year at the Jeffrey M. Verdon Law Group, LLP. The historic Presidential election promises major tax reform, including a 15% business tax rate and lower personal income tax rates, fewer business regulations and less red tape for business startups and expansion resulting in more commerce, new rules by the IRS to eliminate one of the oldest and commonly used traditional wealth transfer techniques involving discounts for intra-family transfers, replacement of the death tax with a Canadian style capital gains rate income tax at death, and the continuing increase in crippling civil litigation arising from overzealous plaintiff lawyers trying to get in on the litigation lottery. In response, we have introduced interesting new programs and strategies, special trusts, and other options for our clients in both Advanced Estate Planning and in vehicles to protect their assets and family legacies. In 2017, once the new tax laws are passed, we will be reporting these changes and what can be done to take advantage of them for our loyal readers. Stay tuned...
Some of our newest planning strategies include the Private Retirement Plan and a renewed interest in capturing valuation discounts through our HYCET Trust® (Have Your Cake and Eat it Too), or flexible gift trust, due to an IRS ruling which might expire in the first quarter of 2017.
We have some changes taking place beginning in the new year. Starting in January 2017, Jeffrey Verdon will become an ongoing contributing advisor for Kiplinger's Wealth Creation columns. In addition, our new Silicon Valley office is starting to get traction and we look forward to a brisk year in the Valley. Presently, we are just one of a very few law firms in Silicon Valley that provides comprehensive estate planning solutions with asset protection and look for this to expand in 2017.
2017 will bring some changes to our team members. Our clients have come to know and enjoy working with our tax associate, Lindzey Cain, (formerly Lindzey Schindler before her marriage this summer to Anson Cain) who has done such a splendid job working closely with me and whom our clients have come to depend on for her skills and superb client service. Lindzey will be leaving the firm at the end of this year to pursue another opportunity in the estate and trust field and we wish her the best for what we know will be a wonderful future.
We continue to expand our tax team with two wonderful new additions. Deborah Ahdoot, Esq., a tax and trusts lawyer, who earned her LL.M. (taxation) from Boston University in 2013 and brings the firm a solid background in income and estate tax planning for individuals and businesses. Deborah is excited about joining the firm telling us she will help build on all of the good work from dedicated people like Lindzey.
We also welcome Nancy Berg, Senior Paralegal, who joins us with over 25 years of outstanding experience rounding out our team as she supports our attorneys and clients. Nancy commented, "I look forward to using my years of experience as an estate planning paralegal and being an integral part of this exciting team."
As 2017 approaches we will be prepared to stay abreast of new changes in rules, regulations, and laws as the new administration settles in starting in January. We will be providing regular updates so our clients and colleagues can protect their estate plans, assets, and families with the most current information that might impact their estates going forward.
We wish everyone a wonderful holiday and a happy and healthy New Year.