EXAM #1 – Quizzes (CH. 1-7) Flashcards
(147 cards)
TRUE OR FALSE:
Estate planning is not the process of accumulation, management, conservation, and transfer of wealth considering legal, tax, and personal objectives.
FALSE
TRUE OR FALSE:
The estate planning process is fairly simple and can generally be completed by a financial planner without any assistance from a licensed attorney or CPA.
FALSE
TRUE OR FALSE:
Any individual who currently owns assets may be in need of estate planning, regardless if those asset values are in excess of the applicable estate tax credit equivalency amount.
TRUE
Which of the following is a common estate planning goal?
A. Minimizing transfer taxes
B. Providing for liquidity at death.
C. Fulfilling client’s healthcare decisions.
D. All of the above.
All of the above
You are opening a new financial planning practice and you would like to put together a team of experts to help your clients with estate planning. Which of the following groups represents the best team to help your clients?
A. Financial planner, CPA, and attorney
B. CPA, psychiatrist, and insurance salesman
C. Financial planner, attorney, and real estate agent
D. Attorney, insurance salesman, and Enrolled Agent
A. Financial planner, CPA, and attorney
The best team for your client would include a financial planner, CPA, and attorney. A licensed insurance specialist is also a good asset to an estate planning team, but the team described in option b is not as good of a team overall as the team in option a.
TRUE OR FALSE:
A holographic will is a handwritten will that is written, dated, and signed by the testator.
TRUE
TRUE OR FALSE:
A disclaimer clause attempts to discourage disappointed heirs from contesting the will by substantially decreasing or eliminating a bequest to them.
FALSE
This is the definition of a no-contest clause. A disclaimer clause’s function is to remind any heirs that they can disclaim a bequest, while still allowing the testator to direct the distribution of disclaimed property.
TRUE OR FALSE:
A limited power of appointment subject to an ascertainable standard results in inclusion of the assets subject to the power in the agent’s gross estate.
FALSE
Property subject to a limited power of appointment is not included in the agent’s gross estate. In addition, property subject to a general power of appointment limited by an ascertainable standard does not result in inclusion in the agent’s gross estate.
Kent, age 38, recently came to you for estate planning advice. He has never executed any estate planning documents. During the client interview, you learned that Kent has never been married and has a six-year-old daughter, Kerstin, with his previous girlfriend, Karen. Karen is Kerstin’s custodial parent and Kent sees Kerstin every other weekend. While Kent and Karen are cordial, the relationship was recently strained when Karen began dating Kent’s business partner, Bobby. Kent is in good health and participates regularly in automobile racing competitions. While Kent often wins in competitions, he has wrecked his car several times and has been seriously injured. Because Kent has had so many wrecks, he invested a majority of his $500,000 net worth in a closely held company to develop a revolutionary steel product that will not bend, crumble or catch fire. Kent and his business partner, Bobby, are sure that all race car companies will buy the steel product because their initial tests established that nine out of ten times a car made with the product that was in a wreck did not even get a dent. Although they plan to take their product to market in a few months, Kent and his partner have had several disagreements. Which of the following statements is true?
A. If Kent died today, there would not be any liquidity issues because Kent’s share of the closely held company could easily be sold for fair market value.
B. Since the value of Kent’s net worth is below $12,060,000 (2022), there is no need for estate planning.
C. If Kent were in a coma as a result of a racing accident, Karen would be able to access his accounts to retrieve the child support payments he is legally required to pay each month.
D. If Kent were to die today, his assets would transfer via state intestacy laws with Kerstin being the most likely heir.
D. If Kent were to die today, his assets would transfer via state intestacy laws with Kerstin being the most likely heir.
Explanation:
Since Kent has not executed any estate planning documents, his estate will transfer via state intestacy laws. When an individual is not married, their children are generally the next in line to inherit under state intestacy laws. Option a is incorrect because the ability to quickly sell a closely held business for fair market value is always questionable regardless of how good the products are. Option b is incorrect because Kent’s net worth is irrelevant as to whether he needs estate planning. He has a child that needs to be cared for and assets that will need to be transferred, thus he needs estate planning. Option c is incorrect because without a durable POA, an agent will not be able to continue making these payments while Kent is in a coma.
You recently had lunch with an estate planning attorney during which she made several statements regarding the estate planning process. Of the statements listed below, which would you consider inappropriate from an estate planning perspective?
A. “I frequently request copies of any long-term care or disability policies the client has.”
B. “A current balance sheet and income statement are helpful when beginning the estate planning process.”
C. “In all my years of experience I have learned to discount the client’s transfer wishes when drafting the will. They are not paying me to make sure little Suzi gets the china, they are paying me to save them money.”
D. “While the probate process is expensive and time consuming for many people, a financial planner should weigh the cost of the necessary planning devices needed to avoid probate against the cost of actually going through probate before determining with the client if probate should be avoided.”
C. “In all my years of experience I have learned to discount the client’s transfer wishes when drafting the will. They are not paying me to make sure little Suzi gets the china, they are paying me to save them money.”
Rizzo is getting ready for her first meeting with her new financial planner, Didi. What information does Rizzo not need to bring to this meeting?
A. Previously filed income tax and gift tax returns.
B. A copy of her current will.
C. A detailed list of Rizzo’s assets and liabilities.
D. Rizzo should bring all of the above information to her first meeting with Didi.
Rizzo should bring all of the above information to her first meeting with Didi.
Which of the following are parties to a power of attorney?
A. The principal’s mother, even though she is not named as the principal’s agent.
B. The guardian ad litem.
C. The principal, or person granting the power.
D. The attorney who prepares the power of attorney.
C. The principal, or person granting the power.
Piper’s will leaves all of her property to her husband, Alex. If he does not survive her by more than eight months, the property will transfer to Piper’s only daughter, Lorna. Piper dies on May 1 and Alex dies on the following December 1. Of the following statements, which is correct?
A. Piper’s property will transfer to Lorna and the property will be eligible for the unlimited marital deduction in Piper’s estate.
B. Piper’s property will transfer to Lorna and the property will not be eligible for the unlimited marital deduction in Piper’s estate.
C. Piper’s property will transfer to Alex and the property will be eligible for the unlimited marital deduction in Piper’s estate.
D. Piper’s property will transfer to Alex and the property will not be eligible for the unlimited marital deduction in Piper’s estate.
B. Piper’s property will transfer to Lorna and the property will not be eligible for the unlimited marital deduction in Piper’s estate.
Explanation:
Piper’s property will not transfer to Alex because he failed to survive her for at least eight months. Therefore, both answer c and answer d are incorrect. Option a is incorrect because the property that transfers to Piper’s daughter, Lorna, will not be eligible for the unlimited marital deduction in Piper’s estate. For transfers to a surviving spouse to qualify for the unlimited marital deduction, the survival period in the survivorship clause cannot exceed six months. Due to the length of the survivorship clause, the property would not have qualified for the unlimited marital deduction even if Alex survived Piper by more than eight months.
Eugene is considering having his attorney prepare a springing power of attorney in which his gives his friend, Patty, the power to handle his finances. Why should Eugene include such a document in his overall estate plan?
A. In the event that Eugene becomes disabled, Patty will be able to pay Eugene’s bills.
B. Patty is not legally competent.
C. Patty is only 16 years old.
D. Eugene wants Patty to be able to handle all of his finances immediately.
A. In the event that Eugene becomes disabled, Patty will be able to pay Eugene’s bills.
Explanation: Eugene should not make Patty the agent of his springing power of attorney if she is not legally competent or is not of the age of majority. If Eugene wants Patty to be able to handle his finances immediately, he should not use a spring power of attorney, which only becomes effective upon the principal’s disability or incapacity.
Hope, age 63, is in the process of updating her estate planning documents following the recent death of her spouse. Which of the following information is important for Hope to provide to the agent named in her durable power of attorney?
I. Health insurance information.
II. Location of important documents, such as marriage certificate and military discharge records (DD 214).
III. Lists of assets and liabilities.
VI. Instructions for caring for Hope’s beloved pets.
A. 1 and 4.
B. 2 and 3.
C. 2, 3, and 4.
D. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
D. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Explanation: Communication with named fiduciaries allows them to fulfill their duties in the most effective manner. All of the items listed (and numerous others) are important information for Hope to share with her named agent.
TRUE OR FALSE:
The “actual contribution rule” do not apply to spouses who are named as joint tenants.
TRUE
TRUE OR FALSE:
Property held as a tenancy in common may not be owned by two or more related or unrelated parties.
FALSE
This is the definition of “tenancy in common.”
TRUE OR FALSE:
At the death of the first spouse, only the community property included in the decedent’s gross estate is stepped-to fair market value.
FALSE
Ralphie, a real estate mogul, dies owning a great deal of real property. Which of the following would be included in Ralphie’s probate estate?
A. A building owned in sole ownership by Ralphie’s wife. Ralphie and his wife do not live in a community property state.
B. A vacant lot owned joint tenancy with rights of survivorship by Ralphie and his brother.
C. A beach house owned tenancy in common by Ralphie and his mother.
D. An office building owned tenancy by the entirety by Ralphie and his wife.
C. A beach house owned tenancy in common by Ralphie and his mother.
Explanation: Option a is incorrect because the property of Ralphie’s wife would not be included in his pro-bate estate. Option b is incorrect because property owned JTWROS passes outside of probate. Option d is incorrect because property owned tenancy by the entirety passes outside of pro-bate.
Which of the following accurately describes a life estate?
A. An interest in property for a specified number of years.
B. An interest in property that ceases upon the death of the measuring life of the life estate.
C. An undivided interest in property held by two or more related or unrelated persons.
D. A complete interest in property with all the rights associated with outright ownership.
B. An interest in property that ceases upon the death of the measuring life of the life estate.
Which of the following states is not a community property state?
A. Louisiana.
B. Idaho.
C. Wisconsin.
D. Florida
D. Florida
Kathi and Darrin, who are married, own their home together as community property. They purchased the home 17 years ago for $100,000. After many improvements and a surge in the market, the home is now worth $200,000. If Darrin died today and left his share of the home to his daughter Elizabeth, what is Kathi’s basis in the home?
A. $50,000
B. $100,000
C. $150,000
D. $200,000
B. $100,000
Explanation: Kathi’s one-half interest in the home will have a basis of $100,000 due to a step-to fair market value of both halves at Darrin’s death because the property is owned as community property.
Eric and Ariel made the following gifts this year:
. Eric gave their son, Sebastian, a car worth $4,000 owned as community property. Eric also gave Sebastian his stamp collection (separate property) valued at $60,000.
. Eric gave his brother, Max, $20,000 of Eric’s separate property so Max could purchase a new home.
. Eric gave his sister, Alana, $4,000 in cash from his and Ariel’s joint checking account which consists only of community property. He also gave Alana a piece of land he purchased before his marriage to Ariel, valued at $49,000.
After the gift, how is Sebastian’s ownership of the car classified?
A. Sole ownership.
B. Joint tenancy with Eric.
C. Tenancy in common with Eric and Ariel.
D. Community property with Sebastian’s wife, Barbie.
A. Sole ownership
Explanation: The car is owned by Sebastian as sole owner. There is no indication that Eric or Ariel retained any interest in the car after the gift. Even though Eric is married, a gift to an individual would not be community property.
Kate and her brother Rustin own a piece of property in Dallas as tenants in common valued at $50,000. Kate owns a 75% interest and Rustin owns a 25% interest. During Mardi Gras, Rustin went down to New Orleans and decided he loved it there. The next week he purchased a house on St. Charles Avenue right across from the Mardi Gras parade route. Unfortunately, Rustin did not get an appraisal and learned later that he significantly overpaid for the property. In addition, the home was much too expensive for Rustin and shortly after the purchase Rustin defaulted on the loan. Even after the bank seized the home, there was a $50,000 debt remaining. Assuming the bank received a default judgment against Rustin and could seize the Dallas property, what portion of the property could be seized to satisfy Rustin’s debt?
A. 0%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 100%
B. 25%
Explanation: Co-owners of tenancy in common property are not liable for the debts of their co-owners. Thus, the bank can only seize Rustin’s portion of the property to satisfy his debt.