Do You Think You Are Not Rich Enough to Consider the Benefits of Estate Planning?

The federal exemption for estate taxes in the United States is very generous, to the point that many people assume that they do not have enough assets to be worried about estate planning. In 2020, that threshold is $11.58 million per individual. You might think that estate planning therefore only applies to the extremely wealthy.

However, there are three reasons why thinking this way is problematic and why you might want to reconsider your frame of reference in deciding to move forward. First of all, you could become wealthier, particularly if most of your current wealth is in stocks. The government could also update the rules and limits for estate tax exemptions in coming years, and finally, some states have an inheritance tax.

This is particularly important for you if you currently live in a state that does not have and inheritance tax but are thinking about retiring in a state that does.