Sharpening Your Planning Skills to Get Ready  

By Thomas J. Perrone, CLU, CIC

Last month I posted a video on some of the general planning tools you have not used in the past eight years because of the Jobs Act.  That is because of the high limits on the unified estate and gift tax amount.  The high limits sheltered many estate owners and business owners from an estate tax.  With the possible change around the corner it’s time to get ready.   

This month I share how to use some of the tools discussed and why.  Enjoy the video.  

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PREPARE FOR 2026 AND GET ENGAGED WITH THE MARKET

Take the Planning Tools Out of the Shed- You’ll Need Them!  

Thomas J. Perrone, CLU, CIC

After the 2017 Jobs Act, many of us (estate and business planners), had to shift our planning topics to moderate estate, Medicaid and income tax planning.  

Many of the tools we used prior to the 2017Jobs Act were often used in the planning process, simply because more business owners were affected and exposed to the Federal and State Estate Tax System. Consequently, more sophisticated strategies were needed to shift value, freeze value, or shelter value from the estate.  

Once the Jobs Act came into play, the exemption amounts eliminated many small business owners from the problem of estate taxation.  

However, with part of the Jobs Act heading for Sunset, we may see more businesses becoming exposed to Federal and State estate taxation.  

Time to go to the shed if you want to play in this market.  

This video will help guide you to some of the areas of planning you will have to dust off and rekindle for use.  

Download your Free Business Guide which will help explain many of the topics discussed. Immediate download, CLICK HERE! 

Thomas J. Perrone, CLU, CIC

tperrone@necgginc.com

The Elephant in The Room!  

BY: Thomas J. Perrone, CLU,CIC

The elephant in the room is about the four major questions that need to be asked by a business owner and advisors for the business owner to avoid failure of the business. The four major questions are. 

  1. What happens to the business if you die become disabled or want to retire?  
  1. What happens to the business if you lose your key person or key group to competition, or they leave?  
  1. What happens to your business if you have a bad economy and cannot make cash flow to support the business? 
  1.  What happens if you burn out and want to leave the business?  

I cover these four areas in this video.  

The major question:   

How Will the Failure of the Business Affect Your Family!  

Get your Free Business Guide Download. This Free Guide will be invaluable as a quick reference for business planning. Our gift to you. CLICK THIS LINK AND THE REPORT WILL DOWNLOAD IMMEDIATELY!  

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THREE WAYS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS WEALTH! 

Thomas J. Perrone, CLU, CIC – NEW ENGLAND CONSULTING GROUP OF GUILFORD, INC

Growing value in your business can create tremendous wealth, however, only 15-30% of the small businesses will sell, which creates the “if factor”, the unknown.  

The percentage of sales is lower for the smaller owned business, more like 15%.  

Building your business to its highest potential value is possible by having guidelines of what must be done as you grow the business.  

To hedge the “what if’s” of selling it, you can use the cash flow of the business to create other assets such as executive compensation and qualified benefits and plans.   

Many owners neglect to consider these options and end up with too much wealth in their business, causing liquidity and tax problems when they leave, die or become disabled. This presents the problem of “how do you get your wealth out of your business on a tax advantaged method” when you want to leave the business and you need it?  

Building Your Business to Sell in The Future! 

Here is a list of strategies that will help in growing a robust business and greatest potential value.  

  • Develop value drivers  
  • Create a culture- employees come to you because of it 
  • Develop a middle management 
  • Systematize your business 
  • Customer diversification  
  • Avoid being dependent on a few customers for your sales  
  • Marketing plan- and always update it and analyze it 
  • Focus on growth of revenue, lowing of costs 
  • Protect yourself from litig 
  • Make sure you protect yourself such as  
  • Fund your Buy & sell agreements, bank loans, audit your liability insurance, protective documents, etc. 
  • Have a strategy to sell or transition your business, such as growing the middle management, and key people to step in and run the company, or even buy it. This is a long-term process, but you must put things in order and work on strategies to get the greatest potential value from the business.  

When Considering Using Your Business Cash Flow to Develop Executive Compensation and Other Benefits,  

Such as:  

  • Executive Compensation plans, where the company contributes to the plan, and you as owner pay as little as 2% in taxes on the contribution.  
  • Salary Continuation and deferred compensation arrangements for you.  
  • Deposit into your company’s retirement plan (like 401k, profit sharing, 403b, etc.). However, if you are a “high earning business owner”, do not load up on 401k contributions and other contributory plans as the tax consequences are severe.  
  • Make sure your buy and sell agreements are funded and updated. Make sure they cover at least the seven major triggers (death, disability, voluntary and non-voluntary termination, divorce, bankruptcy, retirement).  
  • Have critical illness plans set up such as medical reimbursement plans, disability, and health coverage.  
  • Tie your major Key group to your company as they are the value of the company and contribute to the cash flow of your company, allowing you to implement these strategies.  
  • Create vested benefit schedules to keep them with you  
  • Have a company evaluation /appraisal periodically.  
  • Focus your attention on growing sales, as all things point to sales revenue. 

Executive Compensation Is a Fantastic Way to Extract the Value of Your Company on a Tax-favored Basis, And Not Tie It Up in Your Company, Having It Available to You When Needed. 

There are but a few thoughts concerning building wealth through your business while building your business.  

If you would like to receive my report on the “JFK ERA BENEFITS THAT CREATED SUBSTANTIAL WEALTH FOR BUSINESS OWNER”, CLICK THE link and it will download. This benefit was around in the 50’s, but only for the bigger companies, now it is available to the smallest of businesses, and may be one of the greatest business owner benefits available.  CLICK JFK 

The Importance of Beneficiary Designations!

Article Sponsored by:

Some types of assets allow the owner of the asset to name a “beneficiary.”  If the original owner later dies, ownership of the asset passes automatically to the named beneficiary.

Because beneficiary designations are easy to use, they can be a key estate planning tool.

However, significant negative tax, financial, and even personal problems can arise if the “wrong” individual or entity is named as the beneficiary.

Common Named Beneficiaries

A number of individuals, entities, or organizations are commonly named as a designated beneficiary:

●Spouse: A married individual’s spouse is perhaps the most common beneficiary

designation.  Assets passing to a surviving spouse generally escape federal estate tax because of the unlimited marital deduction.1

●Children: Children, as adults or minors,2 are often named as beneficiaries.  Step- children or other children adopted informally generally need to be specifically identified.

●Other family members: Brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and nieces and

nephews are frequently encountered beneficiaries.

●Estate: In some situations, the asset owner will name his or her estate as the

beneficiary.

●Trust: As a part of a more complex estate plan, a trust may be named as a beneficiary. The trust must exist at the time of death for the beneficiary designation to be valid.

●Charity: A charity may be a designated beneficiary, which can reduce the owner’s taxable estate.

●Corporation or partnership: Buy-sell agreements, key man insurance, stock

redemption, split-dollar arrangements, and salary continuation plans are all valid

business reasons why a corporation or partnership may be named as a beneficiary.

1 The discussion here concerns federal income and estate tax law.  Under federal law, If the surviving spouse is not a U.S.citizen, special rules apply.  State or local law may vary.

2 In most states, 18 is the age of “majority” when an individual is considered, for legal purposes, to be an “adult.”

The Importance of Beneficiary Designations

General Considerations in Making Beneficiary Designations

There are a number of general issues to consider when using beneficiary designations:

●Keep beneficiary designations current:Divorce, the birth of a child, the death of a beneficiary, or any number of other life changes can result in the need to update a beneficiary designation.  Lack of planning can result in an ex-spouse receiving

retirement benefits intended to provide for others or for assets to inadvertently be

paid to the estate when a named beneficiary has predeceased the owner.

●Your estate or executor as the beneficiary: In these situations, the transferred assets must generally go through a costly and time-consuming court-supervised process known as “probate.”  During probate the proceeds can be subject to the claims of creditors. In some situations there may be valid estate planning reasons for naming the estate as a beneficiary.

●A minor as beneficiary: In most states, a minor generally cannot legally enter into contracts or own property.  If a minor is named as the beneficiary of an asset, the end result is frequently an expensive court-appointed guardianship with court supervision of the use of these funds.  Once reaching his or her majority, the individual then takes control of the assets.

●Per Capita vs. Per Stirpes: A beneficiary designation form will generally use one of these two terms to specify how an asset will be distributed if a named beneficiary predeceases the asset owner.  In a “Per Capita” distribution, generally, each survivor (a living beneficiary or a deceased beneficiary’s heirs) receives an equal share.  In a “Per Stirpes” distribution, generally, a deceased beneficiary’s heirs divide his or her share into equal portions. Many states have modified these rules.

●Spousal rights: In some states, a surviving spouse may have the right to claim a

portion of a decedent’s estate, including part of assets that can be transferred by a beneficiary designation.  In Community Property1 states, a surviving spouse may have rights that need to be considered.

The Community Property states are Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. In Alaska, spouses may opt-in to a community property arrangement.

The Importance of Beneficiary Designations

●Common disaster: What provision has been made for a situation in which both the asset owner and a designated beneficiary (think of spouses who travel together) die in a common disaster?  This contingency is frequently addressed in an individual’s will.

●Impact on the beneficiary: Consider how receiving an asset will impact the

beneficiary’s life:

●Is the beneficiary capable of using the inheritance as the donor might wish, or will it be wasted?  Is the beneficiary capable of managing the inheritance?

●Are there income tax considerations?  Assets such as deferred annuities, or

retirement plans such as IRAs or 401(k) plans, have varying distribution

requirements, depending on who inherits the assets.  Will one beneficiary pay less

income tax than another?

●Does the intended beneficiary need the money?

●Are there other ways, such as via a will or trust, to transfer assets to the intended beneficiary that might ultimately benefit the beneficiary more than an outright gift?

●Conflict with other estate planning documents: In some cases, an individual will

leave contradictory instructions with regard to how his or her assets should be

distributed.  For example, a will may indicate that an individual’s retirement plan

assets are to pass to a child, while the beneficiary designation form for the retirement plan shows that the ex-wife is to receive the funds.  As a general rule, the instructions contained in the beneficiary designation form will take precedence over those contained in a will or trust.

Seek Professional Guidance

While beneficiary designations are easy to use, they should be considered to be only one part of an overall, coordinated estate plan.  The guidance of experienced, trained estate, income tax, and other financial professionals is strongly recommended.

CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE “BUNDLE REPORTS”

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Benefit Planning Executive Bonus Arrangement1 

An executive bonus arrangement is a method of compensating selected key employees in  which the employer pays the premiums of a life insurance policy covering the employee’s life. 

How the Plan Works 

●Life insurance policy: The employee purchases, and is the owner of, a life insurance 

policy on his or her own life. The employee retains – at all times – the right to name 

the policy beneficiary and to receive the death benefit. 

●Employer not a beneficiary: The employer cannot be the beneficiary, either directly or 

indirectly, of the insurance policy. 

●Written agreement: A written agreement provides for payment of a “bonus” in 

exchange for the employee’s agreement to continue working for the employer. The 

employer may also wish to pay a “double bonus” to help cover the employee’s 

additional income tax liability. 

●Premium Payments: The employer may make the premium payments directly to the 

life insurance company, or the payments may be included in the employee’s paycheck, 

with the employee paying the premiums. 

●Tax treatment – employee: The employee includes in current income – and pays tax 

on – the net premium paid by the employer. 

●Tax treatment – employer: Subject to the “unreasonable compensation” rules, and as 

long as the employer has no interest in the policy, the additional compensation is 

deductible to the employer as an ordinary and necessary business expense. 

Benefit to Employer  Benefit to Executive 
Can reward selected key executives with varying coverage amounts. The executive owns the policy. If he or she changes Employers, the policy is not lost.  
Simple to implement, with little or no administration  Accumulated cash values can be used in emergencies, at retirement, or for personal costs investments.2  
Premium costs are tax deductible. Death benefit is generally received income-tax free.  
Can be stopped without IRS approval or restrictions. Proceeds may be used for estate settlement costs.  

1 The discussion here concerns federal income tax law. State or local income tax law may vary. 

2 A policy loan or withdrawal will generally reduce cash value and death benefits. If a policy lapses, or is surrendered with a 

loan outstanding, the loan will be treated as taxable income in the current year, to the extent of gain in the policy. Policies  considered to be Modified Endowment Contracts (MECs) are subject to special rules. 

For a free report on Business Retirement Plans for Small Business Owners, click and submit. The report will be downloaded immediately. Learn how to use your cash flow to create tax-free wealth! 

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ESTATE PLANNING The LOST FOCUS

By Thomas J. Perrone, CLU, CIC

Since the exemption credit increased to a substantial amount a few years ago, the term “estate planning” took on a new meaning.  

At one time  estate planning was considered tax planning along with other aspects of planning of your estate, depending on whether you owned a business or not.  Things like income for the family, debt payments, taxe reduction, income tax planning, and of course distribution of assets.  There was always an emphasis on avoiding estate and state estate taxes.  

However, as the exemption credit increased to the point that most American tax payers  would be exempt, the emphasis change on how estate planning was done.

However, in 2025 the sunset provision will kick in and will redefine the estate planning landscape.  The provision is set to go back to the exemption credit of about $600,000.  However, most professionals feel it will be higher.  Anyone’s guess.

With the possibility of lower exemption, estate planning will change.  I personally feel small business owners will feel the impact more than most, as their business values will increase their potential exposure to Federal and State estate taxes.   

Estate planning is an essential aspect of managing a small business. It can help ensure that your business is preserved as you want it to be, and that it can continue to operate smoothly even after you pass away. Part of estate planning for business owners will be to focus on the transition of the business more than before. If the exemption is lowered, small business owners will find themselves having to deal with a large tax at their death, upon the transfer of the business. Much can be avoided by doing planning now and using the exemptions available today.

Areas that need planning are:  

  1. Drafting a will and basic estate plan.
  2. Planning for tax efficiencies.
  3. Sorting out issues in family-owned businesses.
  4. Drafting a buy-sell agreement (for multi-owner businesses).
  5. Purchasing life and disability insurance.
  6. Creating a succession plan.
  7. Having a discussion with affected parties.

In order to have a proper discussion about estate planning the short video below will help you understand the main concept of asset distribution.  If you are a small business owner, this information may be critical to your planning structure.  

Request our FREE ESTATE PLANNING GUDIE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS:

For our FREE ESTATE PLANNING GUIDE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS, submit this short form AND the Estate planning guide will download immediately.  

The Guide covers many of the areas you need to understand when doing your estate plan. It is also written in language you will understand.  

Download Your Free Estate Planning Guide 

CLICK HERE

For a better understanding of Estate planning view this short video of how asset distributions work in different estates.

Note: I engage in a working relationship with professional advisors for their business cases.

203 530 6615

tperrone@necgginc.com

 

“Unlocking Your Business Wealth?  

By Thomas J. Perrone, CLU, CIC

A great business book has just come out. Its called “Unlocking Your Business Wealth”, written by Brian Kerrigan.

Brian is a specialist in business growth. He is extremely passionate about helping business owners build wealth in their business so they can become financially independent in the future and enjoy the lifestyle financial freedom brings.   

Many business owners run their business with the focus on personal income, and the freedom of time.  However, the business can also be a valuable financial asset worth much more than the salary being earned.  Business wealth is an asset that can create financial independence for the business owner.   

Many business owners also put too much wealth in their business and when they wish to use this equity find it difficult to get out, or extremely expensive to get out. In many cases, it can be lost due to the market and elements of the business environment.   

In this book, Brian discusses the building of business wealth and the opportunities it creates. Each chapter is a steppingstone to create business wealth.  

A great short read, and necessary if you are an entrepreneur.   

Brian discusses parts of the book, how it will help you grow your business and help you to avoid the traps that you may experience in your business life.  

To Contact Brian:  

860) 303-8929‬ mobile 

Email Brian:  bkerrigan@taylorfoleylaw.com to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your results and lay the foundation for your future success. Remember, the first step is often the hardest, but it’s the only way to reach the top. 

Enjoy our recent podcast with Brian about his wonderful book!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-and-protecting-your-business-worth/id1539791693?i=1000626000478

To Order Brian’s Book

Enjoy Brian’s flip book.

https://publuu.com/flip-book/47240/465013/page/1

When Running Your Business Gets in The Way of Your Retirement!

Many small business owners are focused on running a business that they neglect to plan for their retirement when they retire.   

In many cases they put too much wealth in their business and have a hard time getting it out when they retire. 

Too much wealth is tied in most business owners business. When the time comes that they need it, it becomes difficult to turn into a liquid asset quickly.

This report will help you understand the options that small business owners have and why they need to pay attention to the details of retirement.

Download this free report on how to build your retirement plan for the future. 

Now It’s Available for You!

IN THE “John F. Kennedy Era” 

Business Owners Created Substantial Wealth Using This Benefit!  

Business owners are the most susceptible to it…

Don’t feel bad if this happens to you! 

 WE are susceptible to “not knowing” things WE need to know TO SECURE OUR business growth.

This is why WE need good business advisors.   

However, sometimes by not knowing, you are too late to the party, and opportunities are missed.

THIS IS ONE THING YOU NEED TO KNOW!

It is called “The Corporate Equity Executive Plan”, (OR CEEP.)  It is designed for highly paid business owners and executives.  The plan has been around since the 60’s, and it was used by the “big guns “of the Fortune 500 type companies.  

And You Don’t Want to Be Late TO THIS PARTY!

However, over the years, the plans have been redesigned for the smaller business owner, making it possible for you to take advantage of this substantial benefit plan.  

Because this benefit has been used in large companies such as the S&P 500, many advisors are not aware of this “Hidden Gem of a Benefit.”

Leo had a successful business in wholesale.  He gave his employees great benefits, treated them well, had a 401k, and great health benefits. 

His problem was the 401k limited the amount of contribution he personally could make to the plan because of his high salary.  This was a problem for Leo, because even though he made 401k contributions his percentage of final pay was much lower compared to final earnings. 

Leo didn’t want to depend on selling his business for his retirement, as he had children and grandchildren who wanted to run it and Leo regarded his company as a legacy to his family. 

 Leo wanted his company to support his future security, however, the 401k limited this ability.  

When we projected his retirement benefit percentage compared to his final pay, he was substantially lower than his lower paid employees.   His employee group would retire with social security and their retirement benefit at about 65-80% of their final earnings.   In Leo’s case, his percentage would be about 40% of his final earnings.     

To make up the difference we introduced Leo to the CEEP plan.  The plan allowed him to decide the number of deposits he wanted to make into the plan.  Leo decided to put in $50,000 more a year until his retirement.  This added amount, would increase his final income to around 80-90% of his final pay, adjusted for inflation and salary increases. 

Because the business is funding his retirement plan, he has the benefit of having very efficient tax results.   The plan allowed Leo to use the funds whenever needed, and all withdrawals were tax-free.  Leo was the only participant in the plan, but he plans on adding a few family members to the plan in the future. 

 Considering all the withdrawals would be tax-free, unlike a qualified 401k plan, Leo was able to secure his financial security through the funding by his company! Because very little of the contribution is part of his total compensation, Leo saw a great opportunity for the company to pay for his retirement. They pay for his cars, country club, lunches, some vacations, why not his retirement?

This was a case where the CEEP allowed the highly paid owner to create wealth for themselves, but also on a tax-free basis, allowing more flexibility at retirement for him and his family.  

“Create Your Own “Tax-Free Haven”

By using your company’s cash flow, you can create a tax-free retirement plan. Imagine, no taxes on your income when you retire!

  • Participations: You do not have to include anyone else in the plan. 
  • Contributions: Contribute to the plan as much as you want with flexible contributions, including skipping ability.  
  • Contribution allocation: All the contributions go to your account, and you are not forced to share contributions with anyone.
  • Usage of funds: You can withdraw these funds before 59 1/2 without taxes, penalty, or restriction-why not fund your inventory this way- without a banker! 
  • Funded by your company:   Like a 401k plan, your company contributes to the plan, to your account, since you are the only participant.  
  • Deductible: The company can decide when they wish to take the deduction of the plan.  
  • At Death:  From day one there is a “self-completion clause”, if you die, a tax-free lump sum benefit is paid to your family. In most cases this is the amount of money you would have created in retirement had you lived to retirement. 
  • No force out like RMD: At retirement you are not forced to take withdrawals from your plan, like the required minimum distribution rules under 401k’s and IRA’S.  
  • No Tax on Inheritance:  All benefits are tax-free to your family at your death.
  • more….

Do you remember When?  

When you were a kid, did you ever lay down in freshly mowed green grass and stare up at the blue sky and watch the clouds move?  You smelled the sweetness of the cut grass and just felt so relaxed?  In the background, you hear a twin-engine airplane flying above.  This is the moment in time when there were no issues in life, things were great and easy, and you were so relaxed…

Imagine that feeling, but now it’s at a time in life where you are ready to enjoy more time to “lay in the grass” again and feel that same feeling.  Only now, you are retired, and because you made the right planning decisions, there are no issues.  Financially, you are enjoying a wonderful retirement lifestyle.  The reason: you eliminated income taxes!   You are living the tax-free lifestyle which the CEEP plan offers.   

That is what the CEEP can create for you, and I want to give you more information about it because it is

one of the best benefits ever for business owners.

This is one of those moments you don’t want to show up late for the party!  If you haven’t been exposed to this type of executive benefit, do yourself a favor and download this Free White Paper that explains it all.

I encourage you to take a new path that will give you the opportunity to create greater financial wealth for your future.  A path that will educate you on the great usage of business cash flow to create more financial security.  The path you want to take is to request this free report, download it and spend some time learning about this fabulous benefit used by many high earning business owners and executives since the “John Fitzgerald Kennedy Era”. 

To receive your FREE WHITE PAPER, SCAN THE QR CODE.   COMPLETE the short form and your FREE WHITE PAPER WILL DOWNLOAD IMMEDIATELY…

Or CLICK OR TYPE IN

P.S. SPECIAL OFFER: The first 15 requests will receive a free copy of my book, “Unlocking Your Business DNA”.  A BOOK filled with business strategies that will allow you to grow your business and create an ungodly amount of leisure time to enjoy what you are building. 

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