The Realized Team’s Picks

Do Payable on Death (POD) Accounts Go Through Probate?

Do Payable on Death (POD) Accounts Go Through Probate?

Leaving instructions on what to do with your assets in case you pass can help relieve some of the burdens of managing financial affairs on surviving family members. There are a number of ways to do this. One is called payable on death or POD. This is basically a beneficiary for the account. But does that stop the account from having to go through probate?

NFTs as an Alternative Asset: What You Need to Know

NFTs as an Alternative Asset: What You Need to Know

NFTs, non-fungible tokens, have been around since 2014, but they really became more well-known in 2021. So much so that Collins Dictionary made NFT its word of the year in 2021. NFTs as a concept are pretty nebulous, so what are they and do they have a place in your portfolio?

Can a Beneficiary Sue a Trustee?

Can a Beneficiary Sue a Trustee?

Trustees have a huge responsibility; they must properly administer and oversee assets in a trust. A trust, in turn, is a fiduciary arrangement in which a trustor, or grantor, gives the trustee the responsibility of managing those assets.

How Can I Cover a Large Amount of Debt in my 1031 Exchange?

How Can I Cover a Large Amount of Debt in my 1031 Exchange?

As a real estate investor, you most likely prefer to retain any profit gained from the appreciation in your real estate assets rather than paying it in capital gains taxes when you sell a property and reinvest in another. One strategy for deferring the obligation to pay tax on a capital gain is executing a 1031 exchange.

Apr 16, 2022

Can a Beneficiary Be Removed from an Irrevocable Trust?

Can a Beneficiary Be Removed from an Irrevocable Trust?

Many estate planners and individuals like trusts. Trusts can avoid probate issues when the trustor, or grantor, passes away. Trusts could also be considered a good tax strategy. And they can help ensure that assets are professionally managed, keeping wealth and value intact across generations, providing benefits to the beneficiaries.

Is Accumulated Depreciation an Asset or a Liability?

Is Accumulated Depreciation an Asset or a Liability?

If you’ve been paying attention to our blogs, you know that we’ve written a great deal about the concept of depreciation, and for good reason. Deprecation can provide certain tax benefits to help offset taxable income generated from investments.

What Is Assets Under Management (AUM) and How Is it Calculated?

What Is Assets Under Management (AUM) and How Is it Calculated?

If you’ve been paying attention to our previous blogs and articles, you know that we frequently suggest that you check with your financial planner/professional before pulling the trigger on investments. But how do you know if your potential financial manager, targeted fund, or institution of interest are reputable and safe?

How State Income Tax Rates Are Affecting State Populations

How State Income Tax Rates Are Affecting State Populations

Amid economic concerns post-2020 and into 2022, the layout of the U.S. population is shifting. While the national population growth rate for 2021 was only .1%, the number of Americans moving across state lines has risen.

How Can I Shelter My Income from Taxes?

How Can I Shelter My Income from Taxes?

Mention the term “tax shelter” and what might come to mind are millionaires and billionaires who turn to offshore accounts (or Switzerland) to stash their funds so the U.S. government doesn’t tax them.

Apr 13, 2022

Commodities as Alternative Investments: What You Need to Know

Commodities as Alternative Investments: What You Need to Know

Commodities are less well understood by the average investor, but as inflation rates rise, commodities are something investors may consider as an investment that can help bring diversity to a portfolio. Commodities are tangible goods that can be used as they are or used to make other goods. Some common commodities include livestock, precious metals, cotton, oil, gas, lumber, and uranium.

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