Finally...Congress Makes a Decision About the Future of the Federal Estate Tax (sort of) 
On December 15, 2010, our firm received an all-points bulletin about a subject upon which we had been anxiously awaiting a decision for almost a year. The email was titled, "Senate passes package extending Bush tax cuts."
As we hurriedly viewed the press release on the fate of the dreaded federal estate tax, surprise came over us not because Congress made the decision to reinstate the Federal estate tax from zero tax to a 35% tax for estates larger than $5 million ($10 million for couples), but because Congress decided to impose the new limits for only two years.
By imposing the new limits through 2012 only, Congress is saying that you should do your planning based on one of two scenarios: plan based on the assumption that you will die within the next two years or plan based on unknown variables, which are when you will die and whether there will be a tax imposed when you die. So here we go again with the unknown future of the dreaded death tax....
In conclusion, we aren't out of the dark yet with the tax that may reduce inheritances now and in years to come. It is for that reason why it is important now more than ever to ensure that your estate plan is in order. You want to make sure that you are doing all that you can do now to address the current Federal and Ohio estate tax despite the uncertainty of the future.
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Facebook, here we come!
You may find this hard to believe, but lawyers are usually not the most creative people on earth. Sure there are some lawyers who can paint like Picasso, but that trait certainly doesn't represent the majority of lawyers out there.
That being said, when it comes to following the latest trends of creative marketing through Facebook and other avenues of social media, many lawyers are still in the dark about such methods. It is for that reason why marketing consultants serve a good purpose to left-brained lawyers who are clueless about social media. For Roberson Law, that marketing consultant is Bob Van Leeuwen of "A Marketing Partnership."
Bob set up a Facebook page for Nancy Roberson, and so we invite you to become a fan of her page. On this page are some neat pictures that give people an inside look to Nancy and the everyday happenings at our firm. We have some silly pictures and some serious pictures, too. So, click on the link below and "friend" Nancy (as they say in Facebook language.) We think you will enjoy what you see and learn a little more about Nancy and our firm along the way!
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Employee of the Quarter
Kristina Rainer, Associate Attorney, is Employee of the Quarter! Kristina has been with Roberson Law for almost three and one-half years. She started as a legal intern with Roberson Law during her last semester of law school. Since then, Kristina has been showing her commitment to legal excellence while serving the needs of her clients in the areas of estate planning and business law.
Kristina is the one person at Roberson Law who promises to always have a smile on her face. She loves her clients and feels passionate about what she does at the firm. Kristina is definitely a go-getter who doesn't let any obstacle get in the way of accomplishing her mission!
Kristina has a slew of credentials that are too long to list, but you can view her biography if you want to learn more about her background. Kristina's biography also showcases all of the non-profit organizations for which she volunteers her time due to her commitment to serving her community.
Thank you, Kristina, for all of your hard work and dedication!
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News You Can Use
In This Issue:
- Finally...Congress Makes a Decision About the Future of the Federal Estate Tax (sort of)
- Are You Planning to Fail by Failing to Plan? Basic Steps to Avoiding Financial Loss
- Facebook, here we come!
- Nancy Roberson's Upcoming Speaking Engagements
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Are You Planning to Fail by Failing to Plan? Basic Steps to Avoiding Financial Loss
With many Americans struggling to make ends meet, buying insurance is often not a priority. However, working in a law practice that is centered around death and disability often causes us to meet people who are suffering severe financial loss due to the absence of insurance in their lives when a crisis hits. Whether that crises is due to a death, illness, or an accident, many kinds of financial losses can be mitigated or eliminated altogether with insurance and prudent planning.
Below is a link to the latest article from Nancy Roberson's column titled, "You Don't Know What You Don't Know" published in the latest edition of Living With Loss Magazine. The title of the article is "Living Without Loss," or asset protection planning with various kinds of insurance to avoid additional losses as we journey through life. The article addresses seven types of insurance that are a must-have for most people.
The various emotional losses that we experience can precipitate devastating financial losses. Although emotional loss is often inevitable, financial loss due to inadequate insurance need not emanate from it. If you need a referral to a trusted insurance agent who can steer you in the right direction, please email us at info@dayton-attorney.com for more information. While we will not align ourselves with a specific insurance agent or company, we do have relationships with many trusted advisors to whom we can offer a referral.
To view Nancy's latest published article, click here. Many Roberson Law clients have already received a copy of the latest edition of Living With Loss, the magazine in which Nancy's articles are published, because Roberson Law often purchases subscriptions for its clients who have experienced the death of a loved one. If you would like to purchase a subscription yourself, you may do so at www.livingwithloss.com.
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Nancy Roberson's Upcoming Speaking Engagements
Spring (if it ever gets here!) is going to be a busy season for Nancy. Thank you to Riverain Medical and Mercy Siena Woods for the opportunities to present to your organizations in January.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011, Nancy will be the speaker for a private event held by the Philanthropic & Educational Organization.
Monday, April 25, 2011, Nancy will speak to the "Early Stages" group of the Alzheimer's Association about planning issues for people who are experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. To register, call Julie Worley at 291-3332.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 (morning), Nancy will speak for the Life Cycle Network at Hospice of Dayton regarding Health Care Directives.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 (afternoon), Nancy will speak on long term care planning for the Happy Hearts senior group at Huber Heights Baptist Church.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011, Nancy will lead a breakout session on Trusts and Estates and the Ohio Estate Tax for the Ohio Society of CPAs Dayton Accounting Show at Sinclair Community College.
Friday, May 27, 2011, Nancy will be the main speaker for the WiBN Winstitute. She will give her popular "Are You Prepared?" presentation and will also discuss various issues that pertain to self-employed business owners in the context of estate planning. To register, go to www.womeninbusinessnetworking.com.
Call or email Amy Cary at acary@dayton-attorney.com to book your next event. As always, we never charge a fee for our professional speaking services. You may also go to our speaking engagements page on our website for more information about any of these events.
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Our mission is to provide excellent, compassionate legal services to help people plan for the unexpected and prepare for the inevitable.
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to view our informative, interactive website and our video on YouTube.
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| All material in this newsletter is Copyright © 2011 by Nancy A. Roberson. All rights reserved. |
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