Account Preservation for the Next Generations
A trusteed IRA combines the tax benefits of a traditional IRA with the control and preservation benefits of a trust.
How Is a Trusteed IRA Different from a Typical Custodial IRA?
While traditional custodial IRAs and trusteed IRAs are treated identically for tax purposes during your life, the trusteed IRA gives you control over the ultimate disposition of your IRA assets after your death.
In a typical custodial IRA, your named beneficiary takes control of your IRA assets upon your death and can withdraw them at will. With a trusteed IRA, you control the distribution of the IRA—the who, how, and when—for multiple generations, by choosing the beneficiaries and structuring how the IRA assets are to be distributed.1
What Are the Benefits of a Trusteed IRA?
A trusteed IRA may allow your assets to “stretch.” Upon your death, a trusteed IRA will control all distributions according to provisions you set out.
A trusteed IRA can provide estate planning for your IRA assets held in the trust at little or no cost.
Should your beneficiary die prior to exhausting the trusteed IRA, the provisions of the trust will determine who will receive the remainder interest.
Your trustee can be authorized to continue to use the assets for your bene t should you become incapacitated.
Your estate may be settled more quickly if the bulk of it is in the trusteed IRA. A trusteed IRA typically avoids probate since the assets will transfer on death in accordance with the trust document.
The IRS has complex rules that govern how IRA assets are to be distributed, both during the account owner’s lifetime and after death. The Private Trust Company’s (PTC) trusteed IRA document is pending a preapproval by the IRS to qualify under those rules.
Is a Trusteed IRA Right for Me?
A trusteed IRA may be a good choice for you if you have:
-Substantial IRA assets and are interested in continuity and controlled disposition of your assets at death.
-A desire to provide for regular payments to children or other heirs without passing complete ownership of IRA assets to them.
-A second marriage and wish to provide for your spouse at your death while also ensuring that remaining IRA assets pass to your children by a prior marriage.
-An estate that consists primarily of retirement assets.
Traditional IRAs are funded with tax-deductible contributions, in which any earnings are tax deferred until withdrawn, usually after retirement age.
Unless certain criteria are met, IRS penalties and income taxes may apply
on any withdrawals taken from traditional IRAs prior to age 591⁄2. Required minimum distributions must generally be taken by the account holder within the year after turning 72.
If you would like to discuss your IRA or Estate Planning strategies in order to pay less taxes NOW and in Retirement please contact us at info@commonfinancialsense.com
Until Next Time…
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