Estate Planning

218 posts

More Legal and Tax Issues Involving Farmers and Ranchers

Overview With today’s article I look at more legal and tax issues that farmers and ranchers need to know about.  Being aware of legal and tax issues is a means of overall risk management for the operation.  More discussion of legal and tax issues – it’s the topic of today’s […]Read more »

Summer Ag Tax/Estate and Business Planning Conference

Overview Farm and ranch clients face many income tax issues that require special attention and planning. Likewise, they also encounter many estate and business planning opportunities that they can either take advantage of miss out on. For those representing farm and ranch clients, professional training in these issues is an […]Read more »

A Legacy is More Than “Stuff” and … Other “Stuff”

Overview In today’s random thoughts blog article, I am writing about several questions that I have answered recently from those that have emailed, written (yes, I do get handwritten letters) called, or have talked with me while I have been out on the speaking tour.  It’s random commentary, but hopefully […]Read more »

Medicare and its Relation to Health Savings Accounts and Health Care Sharing Arrangements; and Making a QCD from a 401(k) Account – Can it be Done?

Overview There are two excellent ways to reduce the cost of health care, particularly for sole proprietorship farming and ranching operations (and for other small businesses and individuals).  These are Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs).  But when a person is enrolled in Medicare there can […]Read more »

Estate and Transition Planning Potpourri

Overview Estate and succession planning is very important to many farm and ranch families.  Keeping the land in the family is a key component to estate plans and providing a legacy that keeps the family tied together is critical – not only financially, but also emotionally and spiritually.  I have […]Read more »

Recurring Tax and Legal Issues for Farmers and Ranchers

Overview I receive many questions from farmers, ranchers and others.  Some issues are recurring, and others are cyclical.  Of course, lease and fences come up over and over, as do tax questions.  Of course, the questions abound practically daily about deducting residual fertilizer supply.  Some businesses are really pushing the […]Read more »

Protecting Farm Assets and Your Legacy

Overview Farming and ranching businesses operate on thin margins.  The way ag economists measure it   the operating margin for farming and ranching operations typically refers to the percentage of revenue remaining after covering operating expenses, excluding interest and taxes. It's an important measure of profitability and financial efficiency in agricultural […]Read more »

Year-End Musings…

Overview As 2024 winds down (as I write this it’s after 6:00 p.m. central time) my thoughts turn to some common themes that never hurt to discuss.  The first thing is some tax planning reminders as we transition into a new year. 2025 is currently set to be the last […]Read more »

More Legal and Tax Issues for Farmers and Ranchers

Introduction I have been on the road with seminars a lot recently and haven’t had time to write much for the blog.  I am off the road now for a few days and thought I’d take a moment to write about a few more legal and tax issues that farmers […]Read more »