About the Course
Introduction
This CLE webinar will provide estate planners with a thorough and practical guide to funding trusts. The panel will discuss funding considerations for both revocable and irrevocable trusts, detailing funding considerations at formation, as well as review and evaluation of trust assets during operation. The panel will also address funding formulas for marital trusts and review funding issues for grantor trusts.
Description
A critical component of establishing a trust of whatever type is funding the trust. Many planners look at this as "the last step" in setting up a trust, but a sound trust strategy involves not merely transferring title to assets, but making sure that the right assets are transferred and monitoring asset performance to ensure the trust is performing as it should.
There are several steps to funding a trust. Taking an inventory of assets can sometimes determine whether a trust should be revocable or irrevocable. Determining which assets to transfer, and how to transfer those assets--whether by change of title/ownership, assignment of rights, or purchasing assets in the trust's name--is the key technical aspect of trust funding and one which many taxpayers neglect to complete.
In the case of irrevocable trusts, planners typically can assist clients with exchanging or buying and selling the trust if the trust document permits. Estate planners and advisers should monitor the type of assets held in a trust, and their financial performance, to ensure that the trust is properly funded to accomplish the client’s goals.
Listen as our experienced panel provides a practical guide to the funding issues of revocable, irrevocable, grantor, and marital trusts.
Presented By
Ms. Blau is Of Counsel with the Trusts and Estates Department at McLane Middleton. Her practice is focused on the creation and analysis of complex custom-drafted estate plans for high net-worth individuals and families. Ms. Blau also works with Trustees and clients in connection with trust decantings and other aspects of complex trust administration. A dedicated non-profit volunteer, she currently serves as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Handel & Haydn Society, where she is a member of the Planned Giving Committee, and as a member of the Harvard University Awards Committee. Ms. Blau previously served as a longtime Board member of the Harvard Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Board of Visitors of The Fenn School, and as a Trustee of The Concord Free Public Library Corporation.
Ms. Young is Of Counsel with the Trusts & Estates Group at McLane Middleton. She concentrates her practice on estate planning, representing business owners, family offices and corporate fiduciaries. Ms. Young counsels business owners on tax, retirement and succession planning as well as trust and estate administration. She also works with foundations and other charitable organizations on tax and administration matters. Ms. Young formerly worked as the Washington National Tax Director for private client services at an international accounting firm and at an AM 100 law firm.
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This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
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Date + Time
- event
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
- schedule
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
- Funding irrevocable trusts at formation
- Revocable/living trusts and grantor trusts--initial funding
- Reviewing trust assets for funding adjustments
- Marital funding formulas and approaches
- Grantor trust funding issues
The panel will discuss these and other key topics:
- Evaluating assets at trust formation
- Means of accomplishing asset transfers
- How to alter or reallocate assets held in an irrevocable trust
- Marital trust funding considerations
Related Courses
Estate Planning for Private Equity and Real Estate Fund Managers
Available On-Demand
Charitable Remainder Trusts: Income Tax, Inherited IRAs, Key Considerations for Trust and Estates Counsel
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT
