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Welcome
Greetings!
It's all about relationships.  On October 3, Sully and Jenn got married! Sully (Sully "2"), is my brother Mike (Sully "1" is my brother Brian) and Jenn had a wonderful three day wedding celebration on Nantucket where they have created a ton of memories over the years. Sully "1" was the best man and gave a very touching toast (actually made Sully "2" tear up). Brian talked about relationships and what a great job Mike has done over the years cultivating relationships with so many people from so many aspects of his life and how he makes each person feel special.  The wedding festivities were a culmination of so many of their joint relationships. The friends from school, Mike's fellow wrestling coaches, and the family members. It was especially obvious during the reception--Dan provided the raw bar, Jonas created the amazing food, which included incorporating tuna & striped bass that were caught by friends the day before, music by two college buddies, Jay with all the wonderful beer, wine & distilled spirits and all the flowers arranged by Jenn's mom & her talented friends. It was indeed a celebration of relationships. Welcome Mrs. Sullivan to the family.Cheers,  |
From Bill's Corner...In a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy in 1789, Benjamin Franklin scribed this pithy and probably most memorable statements, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Boy, was he ever correct.
Since George W. Bush passed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA), we have been jokingly advising our clients that 2010 would be the best year to die from an estate tax perspective. We are steadfastly revising that statement. Under EGTRRA, estate taxes were supposed to disappear in the year 2010. President Bush referred to the bill as the "Throw Momma from the Train legislation". As 2010 bears down upon us, politicians are once again changing the rules, which brings to mind another cliché, "There's nothing free in this world". I guess that includes dying.
You think healthcare is confusing; here's what they are proposing for estate taxes in 2010.
- Makes permanent the 2009 $3.5 million exemption and top 45% tax rate
- Reunifies the estate and gift tax exemption (the gift tax exemption is $1 million in 2009)
- Indexes the exemption for inflation
- Allows for exemption portability (i.e., allows the transfer of a decedent's unused exemption to his or her surviving spouse)
House Bill 2032:
- Makes permanent the exemption level at $2 million
- Establishes top tax rates of 45% for estates valued between $2 million
and $5 million, 50% for estates valued at $5 to $10 million, and 55%
for estates valued over $10 million
- Reunifies the estate and gift tax exemption
- Indexes the exemption for inflation
- Allows for exemption portability
- Restores the state death tax credit
House Bill 436:
- Makes permanent the 2009 $3.5 million exemption and top 45% tax rate
- Reunifies the estate and gift tax exemption
- Limits the valuation discount for family limited partnerships (FLPs)
- Provides strict valuation rules for the transfer of non-business assets
And, not to be out-done, the Congressional Budget Office has created four additional options.
Bottom line...stay alive!
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Time to Share. Create a Buzz.
Have you scheduled your annual mamogram?
Healing Threads founder, Peg Feodoroff, has created this video to encourage you and your girlfriends, mothers, aunts, sisters, wives, grandmothers, cousins, nieces, granddaughters to get one. Healing Threads is a sophisticated, dignified and comfortable line of recovery wear and adaptive clothing designed specifically to be worn during and after medical treatments.
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Stocks 107: Introduction to financial statements
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10 myths of investing's new era
The money landscape is dotted with shaky principles that the past year's financial crisis has proved wrong. Let's replace them with 10 fresh concepts.
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Choosing the best health care plan
Is a high-deductible health insurance plan right for you?
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The rude new tip-jar economy
There are times you should tip and other times you may wish to, but we're getting squeezed like never before. Here's my tip: Don't cave in to the pressure.
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About us
WH Cornerstone Investments, LLC provides wealth management services to
a select group of clients. Regardless of their background or future
vision, all of our clients commit to a plan that targets their
long-term financial growth and stability. While some of our clients
concentrate on one part of their investment strategy, others opt for a
more holistic approach.
WH Cornerstone clients demand customized objective, expert advice,
which they know can come only from a firm that is truly independent-a
firm not tied to financial institutions. As an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm, we are fee-only and therefore free from any outside institutional
influence.
Cheers,
Paula Harris and Bill Harris, CFP WH Cornerstone Investments 781.934.9154 www.whcornerstone.com
Sound, visionary stewardship |
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