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What Is a Qualified Opportunity Zone? How to Defer and Reduce Capital Gains Tax
A Qualified Opportunity Zone lets you defer capital gains taxes by investing in designated low-income communities. Here is how the program works in 2026.
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What Is a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)? The Tax-Smart Way to Give to Charity
A donor-advised fund lets you donate now, get the tax deduction immediately, and decide which charities to support later. Here is how DAFs work and who should use them.
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What Is a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)? How to Give to Charity and Keep Income
A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) lets you donate assets to charity, receive income for life or a set term, and take an upfront tax deduction. Here is how it works.
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What Is a GRAT? How a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust Can Reduce Estate Taxes
A GRAT (Grantor Retained Annuity Trust) lets you transfer future asset growth to your heirs estate-tax-free. Here is how it works and when it makes sense.
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What Is a QPRT? How a Qualified Personal Residence Trust Can Reduce Estate Taxes
If you own a home and are concerned about estate taxes — or simply want to transfer your house to your children at a reduced gift tax cost — a Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) is worth understanding. It is one of the more sophisticated estate planning tools available, and it can be remarkably effective
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What Is Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA)? A Tax Strategy for Company Stock in Your 401(k)
If your 401(k) holds significant company stock that has grown substantially in value, there is a tax strategy you may not have heard of: Net Unrealized Appreciation, or NUA. Used correctly, NUA lets you convert what would otherwise be ordinary income into long-term capital gains — potentially saving a significant amount in taxes. What Is
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What Is a 1031 Exchange? How Real Estate Investors Defer Capital Gains Taxes
Selling an investment property often means a large capital gains tax bill. But there is a legal strategy that allows real estate investors to defer those taxes indefinitely — sometimes for a lifetime — while continuing to grow their portfolio. It is called a 1031 exchange, and it is one of the most powerful tax
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What Is the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)? Who Pays It and How to Avoid It
Most Americans pay income tax using the regular tax system — applying tax brackets to their taxable income after deductions and credits. But there is a parallel tax system that some higher-income taxpayers must navigate: the Alternative Minimum Tax, or AMT. Understanding who pays AMT, how it works, and how to plan around it can
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What Is a QLAC? Using a Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract to Protect Against Outliving Your Money
One of the biggest fears in retirement is outliving your money. As life expectancies stretch into the 80s and 90s, a 65-year-old retiree might need to fund 25 or 30 years of living expenses. A Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract — or QLAC — is a specific type of annuity designed to address exactly this risk.
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What Is a QDRO? How Retirement Accounts Are Divided in Divorce
Divorce is complicated enough without having to figure out how to divide a 401(k) or pension. But retirement accounts are often among the largest assets in a marriage — and splitting them incorrectly can trigger unexpected taxes and penalties. That is where a QDRO comes in. What Is a QDRO? A Qualified Domestic Relations Order,