Big news for our littlest ones! 🧠 Introducing Little Brainiac

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Tax-Smart Giving: How to Gift $1M Without the IRS Calling

Fact checked by Suzanne Kvilhaugpixdeluxe / Getty Images For high-net worth estates, tactical gifting can save you thousands.The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has its hand out for tax dollars associated with your generosity, but there are tax-smart loopholes. In fact, the IRS will even let you give away $1 million without sending you a bill. You can gift $19,000 per person per year as of 2025 or $13.99 million throughout your lifetime if you should pass in this year.Key TakeawaysThe federal gift tax is payable by the donor, not the recipient of the gift.You can give away up to $19,000 per person per year tax-free in 2025.You can gift up to $13.99 million as of 2025 if you combine the value of your gifts over $19,000 with the value of your estate. Some types of gifts are tax-free.What Is a Taxable Gift?The IRS potentially applies the federal gift tax to “the transfer of property by one individual to another while receiving nothing, or less than full value, in return.” It adds this caution: “The tax applies whether or not the donor intends the transfer to be a gift.”This includes future interests in property. The recipient won’t own or derive income from this type of gift until some date in the future.“A ‘gift’ is any transfer of funds, property, or assets for which the receiver doesn’t give an equivalent fair market value in exchange,” according to William “Bill” London, an estate planning attorney with Kimura, London & White LLP in California and New York. “This includes cash gifts, loan forgiveness, or the sale of property at a price less than its true value. Interest-free loans can also be classified as gifts under IRS rules.”ImportantFair market value is what a willing buyer would pay for the gift and what the seller would be willing to accept for it if neither were under duress to make the transaction and both were fully knowledgeable about its details.How the Gift Tax WorksThe federal gift tax is payable by the donor of a gift, not the recipient, and a portion of the value of all gifts is exempt.The exclusion is $19,000 per person per year as of 2025. The amount is adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation. It was $18,000 in 2024. These amounts can double when spouses make gifts to the same individual because each spouse is entitled to claim that $19,000 exemption. The recipient can therefore receive $38,000 tax-free.If You Go Over the LimitYou still won’t have to pay tax on gifts with values over the annual threshold unless you’re extremely generous and your estate is worth many millions of dollars at the time of your death. Annual gifts you make during your lifetime that exceed the exclusion for the applicable year can be carried over to the value of your estate, making it subject to a lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion of $13.99 million as of 2025.You do have to notify the IRS annually of any non-exempt portion you’re carrying forward, however. This involves filing IRS Form 709.“Gifts over the $19,000 annual limit don’t automatically trigger tax,” says Laura Cowan, an estate planning attorney and founder of 2-Hour Lifestyle Lawyer. “The excess reduces your lifetime exemption. You need to file Form 709 if the gift to an individual exceeds the annual exclusion per person per year. If you give $20,000 to one person, you have to file 709. If you give $18,000 each to 10 people, no filing is needed.”Yes, you read that right. You can gift well more than $1 million in 2025. You can give up to $13.99 million by combining your annual gifts with the value of your estate. But we’re talking taxes here, and taxes involve the government, so it should come as no surprise that a catch is looming on the horizon.Effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs ActThe federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) effectively doubled the lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion when the law passed in December 2017 but this provision is set to expire at the end of 2025. The lifetime exclusion will plunge back to pre-2018 limits at that time if Congress doesn’t take steps to renew this provision. The pre-2018 exclusion was $5 million although the figure will be adjusted for inflation.You might want to consider some legal workarounds and give as much as possible before December 2025 comes to a close. The IRS indicated in November 2019 that taxpayers who take advantage of the increased exclusion won’t be adversely affected when the terms of the TCJA expire.Workarounds and ExceptionsNot only can each spouse give the same individual $19,000, but they can also give the same individual $19,000 on Dec. 31 and the annual exclusion amount for the new year on Jan. 1, effectively doubling it in this respect as well. It’s a per-year limit. You and your spouse can give your child and their spouse $76,000, each of you gifting the $19,000 limit to each of them without carrying any portion over to a future year.The lifetime exclusion also includes a portability provision that you can make use of if you’re married. You can transfer any unused portion of your $13.99 lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion to your spouse if you should die in 2025 or up to the amount of the 2026 limit if Congress doesn’t take action to maintain the TCJA provisions beyond the Dec. 31, 2025, deadline.Some loopholes exist with regard to the type of gift you’re making as well. “One item to be aware of if you’re likely to exceed your lifetime exemption is that certain types of gifts aren’t taxable,” advises Matt Hylland, a flat-fee, fee-only financial planner and investment advisor at Arnold and Mote Wealth Management in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “Paying tuition or medical expenses isn’t considered a taxable gift. If you can direct your support for your family to directly pay for tuition or medical expenses, you may be able to avoid some gift tax liability.”The Bottom LineThe federal tax rate on gifts and estates is a cringeworthy 40% as of 2025. You’ll have to pay it if you neglect to file Form 709 to keep the IRS up to speed on your annual gifts or if your gifts exceed the lifetime exclusion that’s in place in the year of your death. Planning and taking advantage of tactical gifting can be critical if you enjoy a high-net-worth estate, particularly if the TCJA terms expire in 2026.
6 Key Alternative Investments to Consider for Your Legacy Plan

Fact checked by Suzanne Kvilhaugpicture alliance / Getty Images Gold can serve as a timeless store of value, offering stability and diversification in a legacy plan.Stocks and bonds are the usual go-tos for a legacy plan. But families with serious wealth often think bigger. From real estate to Picasso paintings, alternative investments can play a powerful role in the building of a lasting legacy.Alternative investments such as private equity, real estate, hedge funds, fine art, collectibles, and commodities offer opportunities for growth just like standard investments. They may also help you make an impact, protect your wealth, and pass it on. These assets are no longer fringe investments but have become important considerations for families looking to create a long-term financial strategy.Key TakeawaysFamilies can look beyond stocks and bonds to use alternative assets like private equity, real estate, and fine art to shape legacy plans.These types of investments can reflect personal values, preserve wealth, and create meaningful stories to pass on to generations.Since alternative assets can be complex and illiquid, it's important to plan carefully and help heirs understand their long-term purpose.Alternative Assets and Legacy PlanningLegacy planning is more about leaving an inheritance to the next generation; it's about how you leave your wealth. For many high-net-worth families, that involves building a portfolio that reflects their values, long-term vision, and resilience across generations. Alternative assets cover all that ground.In addition, "alternative investments can help reduce volatility, decrease market correlation, and support long-term overall growth, which usually aligns well with the multi-generational goals of wealth preservation," according to Steve Branton, CFP and managing director at Wealthspire Advisors.Like all investments, however, alternative assets also come with risks. They're usually less regulated or less liquid (meaning they're harder to exit). Those same characteristics also make them powerful and unique investments.The more tailored your portfolio becomes, it increasingly reflects your values and interests rather than just returns. Before jumping in, work with a financial advisor who can align your financial profile with your long-term goals. Lastly, instill in your heirs why these investments matter and how they shape the larger family legacy.Here are six alternative investments to consider.Private EquityInvesting in private companies, whether they be start-ups or mature businesses, can potentially offer higher returns than public companies. Private equity (PE) is illiquid, but that can be a desirable feature for legacy-minded investors.PE requires patience and access; investments require a large amount of capital, and returns take time due to the nature of private equity. Families interested in backing innovation, supporting local communities, or building influence can look to private equity to provide this impact in conjunction with gains.Real EstateProperty has always been an area of wealth. More than just homes, real estate includes rental properties, commercial real estate, farmland, and vacation properties passed down through generations.Real estate offers two unique monetary components: appreciation and rental income, and quite often, tax advantages. Real estate is tangible, generally appreciates, and provides families with a sense of place; think the Kennedys and Hyannis Port, the Vanderbilts and the Biltmore Estate, and the Hearsts' Hearst Castle.Hedge FundsHedge funds, investment vehicles for high-net-worth individuals, provide advanced investment strategies that can preserve and grow capital in all market conditions. They're generally used to protect wealth through diversification and downside protection, and provide returns that beat the market through alpha strategies.Like PE, hedge funds involve access and large amounts of capital investment, and due diligence is important to ensure hedge fund managers align with your family's goals and risk tolerance.Fine ArtNot only is art beautiful, but it is a store of value. Families interested in culture or history move towards acquiring art as a reflection of their interests and tastes. Art is also a reflection of wealth. Not everyone can acquire that Picasso or Monet.With fine art and other assets, the timing of capital gains and estate tax is important. Branton says, "These assets may build up large unrealized gains. If not planned properly or sold at the wrong time, they can trigger significant capital gains or incur estate/gift taxes...In some cases, it may be best to hold private equity or fine art until death, when the basis can be stepped up and the asset can be sold with little to no capital gains."NoteThe most expensive painting ever sold is "Salvator Mundi," attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. It went for auction at $450.31 million.CommoditiesCommodities, such as gold, oil, and wheat, are the foundations of the global economy and can add diversification to a legacy plan. While not fully immune to inflation and geopolitical uncertainty, certain commodities have historically held value over time.They are tangible, globally traded, and can serve as a store of wealth in times of currency fluctuations or long-term economic shifts. As with any asset, timing and allocation matter.CollectiblesPeople have interests, and some of these can be expensive. Wine, classic cars, and vintage watches might start as hobbies but can become valuable investments.However, Branton says, "Be aware there could be valuation and liquidity challenges; illiquid assets like private equity and art can be hard to value and/or sell, which can complicate estate administration and ultimately delay any distributions."While they can be less liquid and sometimes harder to value, they add diversification to a portfolio, a sense of awe (more than a stock would), and a family legacy.A watch passed down from grandparent to grandchild can hold a lot of meaning, oftentimes more than the monetary value. These are the types of items your family will cherish and discuss over the generations.The Bottom LineWhile traditional assets are essential and will always make up an investment portfolio, alternative assets offer families a way to build a legacy that's more than just about returns. It's about meaning, identity, and long-term impact.From fine art to farmland, these investments can reflect a family's values and passions, while also crafting stories and traditions that span generations.