All politics aside, one could learn a thing or two from Mitt Romney’s estate planning when it comes to transferring wealth. One particularly interesting instrument he made use of was the “Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust,” or IDGT. Romney and his use of the IDGT (accordingly pronounced, “I DiG IT,” if you aren’t into spelling out your acronyms) were the subject of a recent article in Bloomberg News titled “Romney ‘I Dig It’ Trust Gives Heirs Triple Benefit.” A popular wealth transfer strategy among estate planning attorneys, the IDGT provides a “triple benefit” to taxpayers who employ it. The key, as with so many wealth transfers, is to place unappreciated assets in an IDGT and thereby shelter them as they grow. If the assets then appreciate in the IDGT, then the transfer will ultimately maximize the wealth transferred and minimize the attending taxation. Check out the original article to learn more about this popular IDGT strategy, and contact your estate planning attorney to see if the IDGT is right for you and your loved ones.
Reference: Bloomberg (September 27, 2012) “Romney ‘I Dig It’ Trust Gives Heirs Triple Benefit”
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