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There has been so much attention this fall on the presidential election that the end of the year has rapidly come upon us. Regardless of the outcome of the election, neither candidate will be able to change the current tax law this year, so most of the usual year-end tax planning strategies remain the same. However, one recent development has caused us to move the always-important “Review your estate plan” to the top of the list.

Donald Trump will become our 45th President, and the Republicans will retain hold of Congress. Based on the Republican Party platform, this could result in dramatic tax code changes. Looking at President-elect Trump’s proposed changes to the tax code, we assess their likelihood of being passed in the next two years.

With Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the White House, there are three things to know about heading into 2017: (1) expect tax reform to be a high priority; (2) individual tax reform will focus on lower rates but expect to lost some deductions and credits; and (3) business tax reform will focus on rates, depreciation and international taxes.

Defying the betting odds and pollster predictions, Donald Trump has pulled off an improbable victory. As an “unknown unknown,” Trump’s election introduces a level of policy uncertainty. Republicans hold the majority in Congress, but President-elect Trump will have to spend his early days building bridges to gain support for his agenda.

Donald Trump’s election as the 45th President of the United States on November 8 is expected to bring changes to the tax laws for individuals and businesses. President-elect Trump had made tax reduction a centerpiece of his economic plans during his campaign, saying he would, among other things, propose lower and consolidated individual income tax rates, expand tax breaks for families, and repeal the Affordable Care Act. As the next few weeks and months unfold, taxpayers will learn more about Trump’s tax plans.

On November 9, 2016, many Americans woke up to (or stayed awake for) an unexpected election outcome. As of that day, the downside for the DOW and the S&P 500 Index appeared to be less than the declines that occurred after the 2008 and 2012 elections. However, it is still early. During these uncertain times, it is best to stick with your investment plan as we wait to see how trends play out in the coming months and longer term.

In this edition of Tax Topics, the focus is on the IRS release of the 2017 inflation-adjusted numbers, along with planning points to keep in mind for both year-end and in general. It also has the November 7520 rate and applicable federal mid-term rates.

From a tax perspective, 2016 was a relatively calm year. But this relative calm shouldn't create complacency. Instead, it creates two significant opportunities for year-end planning. First, you can redirect the time and energy spent understanding new laws in years past toward a holistic look at your tax situation and plans for the future; you might just identify tax-saving strategies that were previously unnoticed. Second, you can devote that extra time to learning more about the new rules that did go into effect this year.

Lifetime gift planning can include gift to spouse, annual exclusion gift, UTMA accounts, 2503(c) Trust, funded Crummey trust, 529 plans, payment of tuition and medical expenses, gift to irrevocable life insurance trust, and gifts to qualified personal residence trust (QPRT). When it comes to the basic estate and gift planning, it helps to have an at-a-glance view of the types of gifts available and their benefits, tax consequences, restrictions and limitations, and requirements.

When evaluating possible estate planning counsel, there are many variables to consider such as educational background and professional experience, skills, and review process. To help you determine if the prospective attorney is truly qualified to help you, there are ten key questions to ask and guidelines to follow.