The Eeans for YouThe Clock Is Ticking: Estate & Gift Tax Changes Are Coming — Protect What’s Yours!The Eeans for You

If you want to protect your family, your assets, and your legacy, now is the time to put a smart
estate strategy in place. Because when the laws change, the cost of doing nothing could be
enormous.
Let’s break down what’s happening, what’s at stake, and what you can do today to stay in
control.

What’s Changing?

Thanks to the recently passed Big Beautiful Bill, the tax exemption amount that was previously set to be reduced has now been made permanent. Each individual now has a $15 million exemption (adjusted for inflation starting in 2027), allowing married couples to shield up to $30 million combined. This update removes the previous pressure to use the exemption before 2026, eliminating the “use it or lose it” concern that had been looming.

Estate Strategy: Control, Protect, and Preserve

Good estate planning isn’t just about minimizing taxes — it’s about control.

• Avoid Probate Court (Here’s a link for more info: https://www.anneschmidtlaw.com/blog/2025/02/how-to-avoid-probate-effective-strategies-for-a-seamless-transaction/)
• Controlling where your assets go
• Protecting your family from confusion, court battles, or predators
• Preserving your legacy across generations

A proper estate strategy can include:
● Trusts that keep assets private, out of probate, and distributed according to your exact wishes
● Gifting strategies that allow you to give money now and reduce your taxable estate
● Life insurance trusts that keep policy proceeds out of your estate
● Family LLCs or partnerships that allow for discounted asset valuations
● Charitable giving tools that allow you to do good while reducing estate tax exposure

Real Stories, Real Losses

Let’s take a look at two true stories of what can happen — one with a plan, and one without:

The Unprotected Family

A widow in her 70s passed away in 2022, leaving behind a family farm worth about $8 million, plus $1 million in savings and life insurance. She had no estate plan beyond a will granting her children the inheritance of her estate.
Her children were left scrambling. The assets exceeded the exemption amount, so they were hit with over $1 million in estate taxes. With no trust in place, everything went through probate. The farm couldn’t be sold fast enough to cover the bill, so they had to take out loans — and eventually sell off part of the land that had been in their family for generations.
Now let’s look at a similar example, where an estate plan was in place.

The Business Owner Who Had a Plan

In contrast, a business owner with similar assets — a $7 million company, $1 million home, and $2 million in investments — used a combination of trusts, gifting, and valuation discounts to reduce his taxable estate.
He also purchased a life insurance policy owned by an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) to provide liquidity for estate taxes, just in case.
When he passed in 2023, his heirs received the business and assets without any forced sales or panic. The taxes were already covered, and his wishes were executed exactly as planned.
This is what we want for you!

The Window Is Closing: Here’s What You Can Do Now

You have until the end of 2025 to take advantage of the historically high exemption — BUT once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Here are steps you can take now:

1. Get a Comprehensive Estate Plan
   At minimum, you should have:
   ● A will
   ● A revocable living trust
   ● Powers of attorney for both finances and health
   ● A healthcare directive
   Even if you’re under the exemption threshold, these tools help keep your affairs out of court and your family in the loop.

2. Consider Lifetime Gifting
   You can give away up to the full exemption ($13.61M in 2025) during your lifetime without paying federal gift taxes. Gifting now “locks in” today’s high exemption amount — even if it drops in 2026.
   You can also give up to $18,000 per year, per person (in 2024) tax-free — no need to report it.
3. Explore Trusts
   Trusts are one of the most powerful estate tools available. Some options to explore:
   ● Irrevocable trusts (to remove assets from your taxable estate)
   ● Grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs) for transferring appreciating assets
   ● Charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) for blending philanthropy and tax savings
   ● Dynasty trusts to protect wealth across multiple generations
4. Talk to Your Tax & Legal Advisors
   Estate planning is complex — and it intersects with your business, retirement, insurance, and tax strategy.
   A good advisor can help you:
   ● Calculate your potential estate tax exposure
   ● Identify the right planning tools for your goals
   ● Navigate the changing rules so no one gets surprised
   Book a call for a FREE consultation now! – https://www.nourasbooks.com/contact

You Worked Hard. Don’t Let It Slip Away.

Estate planning isn’t just about your life — it’s about your values, your legacy, and the people you love.
If you do nothing, the government gets to decide how your assets are taxed, who gets what, and when.
But with a smart strategy, you stay in control — even after you’re gone.
The estate and gift tax laws are changing. You might want to change your plan too.
Need help? Let’s talk about your estate strategy before 2025 ends. Your legacy is too important to leave to chance.