An ILIT owns your life insurance policy, keeping the death benefit out of your taxable estate while providing liquidity to pay estate taxes or transfer wealth to heirs tax-free.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockGive up to $19,000 per recipient per year ($38,000 for married couples gift-splitting) without using any lifetime exemption or filing a gift tax return.
A couple with 3 children and 6 grandchildren gives $38,000 to each (9 recipients) = $342,000 transferred tax-free per year, removing assets from the taxable estate.
Direct payments for tuition and medical expenses are unlimited and separate from the annual exclusion. Front-load 529 plans with 5 years of contributions ($90,000) at once.
A UNK client and his wife wanted to reduce their taxable estate without triggering gift tax. Uncle Kam implemented a systematic annual gifting program: each year, the couple gave $19,000 per child (the 2026 annual exclusion) to each of their three children and three spouses — $19,000 x 6 recipients x 2 donors = $228,000 per year. Over three years, they transferred $684,000 out of their estate completely tax-free, with no gift tax return required and no use of their lifetime exemption.
Want to reduce your taxable estate while you're alive? Annual gifting is the simplest strategy available. Book a call to build your gifting plan.
Be the Next Win — Book a CallThe annual gift tax exclusion is $19,000 per recipient in 2026 (indexed for inflation). You can give $19,000 to as many people as you want each year without filing a gift tax return or using any of your lifetime exemption. Married couples can combine their exclusions to give $38,000 per recipient per year through gift-splitting.
No — gifts within the annual exclusion ($19,000 per recipient in 2026) do not require a gift tax return (Form 709). However, if you make a gift that exceeds the annual exclusion to any one person, you must file Form 709 to report the excess, even if no gift tax is due (the excess reduces your lifetime exemption).
Yes — gifts above the annual exclusion reduce your lifetime gift and estate tax exemption (approximately $15 million+ per person in 2026, permanently doubled under the OBBBA). As long as your total lifetime taxable gifts (above annual exclusions) do not exceed the exemption, no gift tax is due. Only when cumulative taxable gifts exceed the lifetime exemption does gift tax apply at 40%.
Yes — the annual exclusion applies to gifts to any individual, including grandchildren. However, large gifts to grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) may also trigger the Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) tax, which has its own exemption (approximately $15 million+ in 2026, permanently doubled under the OBBBA). Gifts within the annual exclusion are automatically exempt from GST tax.
Yes — you can elect to treat a lump-sum contribution to a 529 plan as if it were made ratably over 5 years, allowing you to contribute up to $95,000 per beneficiary ($190,000 for married couples) in a single year without gift tax consequences in 2026. This is called the "superfunding" election and must be reported on Form 709.
Assets transferred at death receive a new cost basis equal to the fair market value at the date of death, eliminating all embedded capital gains that accrued during the decedent's lifetime.
A $2M stock portfolio with a $200,000 original basis: if held until death, heirs inherit with a $2M basis, eliminating $360,000 in capital gains taxes.
Do not sell highly appreciated assets — hold them until death for the step-up. Combine with a 1031 exchange chain for real estate to defer gains and step up at death.
A UNK client's father had purchased Apple stock in 1990 for $12,000. At his death, the shares were worth $352,000 — a $340,000 gain. Without planning, the client assumed she would owe capital gains tax when she sold the shares. Uncle Kam explained the step-up in basis: because the shares passed through the estate, the client's cost basis was stepped up to $352,000 (the date-of-death value). She sold the shares immediately for $352,000 and owed zero capital gains tax on the $340,000 in appreciation.
Have appreciated assets you plan to pass to heirs? The step-up in basis is one of the most powerful estate planning tools available. Book a call to coordinate your plan.
Be the Next Win — Book a CallWhen you inherit an asset, your cost basis is "stepped up" to the fair market value on the date of the decedent's death (or an alternate valuation date 6 months later). This means all appreciation during the decedent's lifetime is permanently erased for capital gains purposes. If you sell the asset immediately after inheriting it, you owe zero capital gains tax on the lifetime appreciation.
Most capital assets that pass through an estate receive a step-up: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, business interests, and collectibles. Assets held in IRAs and 401(k)s do not receive a step-up — they are subject to ordinary income tax when withdrawn. Assets in irrevocable trusts may or may not receive a step-up depending on how the trust is structured.
In community property states (California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Louisiana, New Mexico, Wisconsin), both halves of community property receive a step-up in basis when one spouse dies — not just the deceased spouse's half. This is a significant advantage over common law states, where only the deceased spouse's share receives the step-up.
For very large embedded gains, holding appreciated assets until death can eliminate the capital gains tax entirely through the step-up in basis. However, this strategy must be weighed against estate tax exposure (if the estate exceeds the exemption), liquidity needs, and the opportunity cost of holding a concentrated position. Uncle Kam can model the tradeoffs for your specific situation.
Yes — donating appreciated assets to a qualified charity or Donor-Advised Fund eliminates the capital gains tax and generates a charitable deduction for the full fair market value. This is often more tax-efficient than holding until death (which avoids capital gains but may trigger estate tax) or selling and donating cash (which triggers capital gains before the donation).
Contribute cash or appreciated assets to a DAF, receive an immediate charitable deduction, avoid capital gains on donated assets, and distribute grants to charities at your own pace.
Donating $100,000 in appreciated stock (basis $20,000) to a DAF: $100,000 deduction + $16,000 in avoided capital gains tax = $53,000 in total tax savings at 37%.
Bunch multiple years of charitable giving into one year to exceed the standard deduction threshold. Invest DAF assets for tax-free growth before distributing.
A UNK client planned to donate $10,000/year to her church and local charities over the next 5 years. Uncle Kam introduced the concept of "bunching" — contributing 5 years of donations ($50,000) into a Donor-Advised Fund in a single year. This pushed her itemized deductions well above the standard deduction ($29,200 for MFJ), generating a $50,000 charitable deduction in Year 1. At her 37% marginal rate, the deduction saved $18,500 in federal taxes. She then distributed $10,000/year from the DAF to her chosen charities over the following 5 years.
Planning to give to charity? A Donor-Advised Fund can double your tax benefit without changing how much you give. Book a call to structure your giving strategy.
Be the Next Win — Book a CallA Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account sponsored by a public charity (such as Fidelity Charitable or Schwab Charitable). You contribute cash, securities, or other assets to the DAF, receive an immediate tax deduction for the full contribution, and then recommend grants to qualified charities over time. The assets grow tax-free inside the DAF until distributed.
Cash contributions to a DAF are deductible up to 60% of AGI. Contributions of appreciated securities are deductible at fair market value up to 30% of AGI. Excess contributions carry forward for up to 5 years. Unlike private foundations, DAFs have no minimum distribution requirement.
Bunching means contributing multiple years of planned charitable giving into a DAF in a single year to exceed the standard deduction threshold and itemize. For example, instead of donating $10,000/year for 5 years (which may not exceed the standard deduction), you contribute $50,000 in Year 1 to a DAF, take the full itemized deduction, and then distribute $10,000/year to charities from the DAF over the following 5 years.
Yes — and this is one of the most powerful aspects of a DAF. You can contribute long-term appreciated stock directly to the DAF, deduct the full fair market value (up to 30% of AGI), and avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation. The DAF can then sell the stock tax-free and invest the proceeds for future charitable distributions.
A DAF is simpler and cheaper to establish (no legal fees, no IRS approval), has no minimum distribution requirement, offers higher deduction limits, and provides anonymity for grants. A private foundation offers more control (you can hire family members, make program-related investments, and set your own grant criteria) but requires 5% annual distributions, has lower deduction limits, and faces excise taxes on investment income.
Donate appreciated securities directly to charity and receive a deduction for the full fair market value while avoiding capital gains tax on the appreciation.
Donating $50,000 in stock (basis $5,000): $50,000 deduction + $9,000 avoided capital gains = $27,500 total tax savings vs. $18,500 if you sold and donated cash.
Never sell appreciated stock and donate the proceeds — always donate the stock directly. Use a DAF if the charity does not accept stock directly.
A UNK client held $120,000 in Apple stock with a cost basis of $20,000 — a $100,000 long-term gain. He planned to sell the stock, pay the capital gains tax, and donate the after-tax proceeds to his alma mater. Uncle Kam redirected the strategy: donate the stock directly to the university's DAF. By donating the shares directly, the client deducted the full $120,000 fair market value, avoided $22,000 in federal capital gains tax (at 20% + 3.8% NIIT on the $100,000 gain), and the university received the full $120,000 instead of $98,000.
Planning a charitable gift? Never sell appreciated stock first — donate it directly and keep the capital gains tax. Book a call to structure your next gift.
Be the Next Win — Book a CallYes. You can donate long-term appreciated stock (held more than 1 year) directly to a qualified charity or Donor-Advised Fund and deduct the full fair market value on the date of the gift — up to 30% of AGI. You also avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation. This is almost always more tax-efficient than selling the stock and donating cash.
When you donate appreciated stock, you get two tax benefits: (1) a charitable deduction for the full fair market value, and (2) you avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation. When you donate cash, you only get the charitable deduction. For stock with large embedded gains, the difference can be tens of thousands of dollars.
You can donate publicly traded stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, real estate, private company stock, cryptocurrency, and other appreciated assets. The deduction rules vary by asset type: publicly traded securities are deductible at fair market value; private company stock and real estate require a qualified appraisal; cryptocurrency is treated like property.
Contributions of long-term appreciated capital gain property to public charities are deductible up to 30% of AGI. Contributions to private foundations are limited to 20% of AGI. Excess contributions carry forward for up to 5 years. Cash donations to public charities are deductible up to 60% of AGI.
Yes. The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, so donating appreciated crypto directly to a qualified charity or DAF allows you to deduct the fair market value and avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation — the same as donating appreciated stock. The charity or DAF can then sell the crypto tax-free.
Sell investments at a loss to offset capital gains from other investments, reducing or eliminating capital gains tax. Excess losses offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income annually.
Harvesting $50,000 in losses offsets $50,000 in capital gains, saving $10,000 at a 20% long-term rate. Excess losses carry forward indefinitely.
Avoid the wash sale rule — do not buy the same or substantially identical security within 30 days before or after the sale. Replace with a similar (not identical) investment.
A UNK client had a concentrated stock portfolio and realized $85,000 in capital gains from selling a position in early 2023. Later that year, during a market correction, several of his other holdings were down significantly. Uncle Kam identified $55,000 in unrealized losses across three positions. The client sold those positions, harvested the $55,000 in losses, and immediately reinvested in similar (but not identical) ETFs to maintain market exposure without triggering the wash-sale rule. The $55,000 in losses offset $55,000 of his gains, reducing his net capital gain to $30,000.
Have unrealized losses in your portfolio? Tax-loss harvesting is a free tax reduction available every year. Book a call before year-end.
Be the Next Win — Book a CallTax-loss harvesting is the practice of selling investments at a loss to offset capital gains from other investments, reducing your overall tax liability. The harvested losses first offset capital gains dollar-for-dollar. If losses exceed gains, up to $3,000 of excess losses can offset ordinary income per year. Remaining losses carry forward indefinitely to future years.
The wash-sale rule disallows a loss deduction if you buy the same or "substantially identical" security within 30 days before or after the sale. To avoid triggering the rule, you can immediately reinvest in a similar but not identical security (e.g., sell a Vanguard S&P 500 ETF and buy a Fidelity S&P 500 ETF), wait 31 days before repurchasing, or use the loss to rebalance your portfolio.
No — losses in tax-deferred accounts (IRA, 401(k)) cannot be harvested because all gains and losses inside those accounts are tax-deferred. Tax-loss harvesting only applies to taxable brokerage accounts. This is one reason why it can be beneficial to hold more volatile assets in taxable accounts where losses can be harvested.
Yes — and cryptocurrency has a significant advantage: the wash-sale rule does not currently apply to crypto (it applies only to "securities" under the tax code, and crypto is classified as property). This means you can sell crypto at a loss, immediately repurchase the same coin, and still claim the loss deduction. This may change with future legislation.
Capital losses first offset capital gains of the same type (short-term losses offset short-term gains; long-term losses offset long-term gains). Excess losses can offset gains of the other type. After offsetting all capital gains, up to $3,000 of net capital losses can offset ordinary income per year. Remaining losses carry forward indefinitely.
Private Placement Life Insurance wraps a customized investment portfolio inside a life insurance policy structure, providing tax-free growth, tax-free loans, and estate tax-free death benefits.
A $5M portfolio growing at 8%/year inside PPLI vs. a taxable account: after 20 years, PPLI generates $2.3M more in after-tax wealth by eliminating annual income taxes on growth.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockInvestments in oil and gas working interests allow immediate deduction of 65–80% of the investment as Intangible Drilling Costs (IDC), plus ongoing depletion allowances on production.
A $500,000 investment in an oil and gas working interest generates $325,000–$400,000 in Year 1 IDC deductions, saving $120,000–$148,000 at a 37% rate.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockA Charitable Lead Trust pays income to a charity for a set term, then passes the remaining assets to heirs. Creates an upfront charitable deduction and reduces estate taxes.
A $2M CLT with a 5% payout to charity for 20 years generates a $1.2M charitable deduction upfront, saving $444,000 in income taxes at a 37% rate.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockTransfer assets into a GRAT, receive annuity payments for a term of years, and pass all appreciation above the IRS hurdle rate to heirs completely free of gift and estate tax.
Transferring $5M in stock expected to grow 15%/year into a 2-year GRAT: $1.5M in appreciation passes to heirs tax-free, saving $600,000 in gift/estate taxes.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockTransfer appreciated assets into a CRT, receive an immediate charitable deduction, avoid capital gains on the sale, and receive income payments for life or a term of years.
Transferring $1M in appreciated stock (basis $100,000) to a CRT eliminates $180,000 in capital gains tax, generates a $300,000+ charitable deduction, and provides lifetime income.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockInvest in qualifying film, TV, or entertainment productions to generate federal deductions under §181 and state tax credits of 20–40% of qualifying production expenditures.
A $500,000 investment in a Georgia film production generates a $100,000 state tax credit (20%) plus a federal §181 deduction, saving $285,000+ in combined taxes.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockA business owner creates their own insurance company to insure business risks. Premiums paid to the captive are deductible by the business; the captive pays tax only on investment income under §831(b).
A business paying $1.2M in captive premiums deducts the full amount, saving $444,000 at a 37% rate. The captive pays minimal tax on investment income.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockA Family Limited Partnership allows transfer of assets to family members at a valuation discount (typically 20–40%) due to lack of control and marketability, reducing estate and gift tax exposure.
A $10M real estate portfolio transferred via FLP at a 35% discount reduces the taxable estate by $3.5M, saving $1.4M in estate taxes at a 40% rate.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockDonate a conservation restriction on qualifying land to a land trust, generating a charitable deduction equal to the reduction in property value — often 2–5× the cost of the easement.
A $500,000 easement on land with $2M in conservation value generates a $2M charitable deduction, saving $740,000 at a 37% rate.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockDefer and potentially eliminate capital gains taxes by investing in Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds within 180 days of a capital gain event.
Investing $500,000 of capital gains into a QOF and holding 10 years eliminates all taxes on the new appreciation — potentially $300,000+ in tax-free gains.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockFounders and investors in qualified small businesses can exclude up to $10 million (or 10× their adjusted basis) in capital gains from federal income tax when selling stock held for more than 5 years.
A founder selling $10M in QSBS stock (basis $100K) excludes the entire $9.9M gain, saving $1.98M in federal capital gains taxes.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockInvest capital gains from any source into a Qualified Opportunity Fund within 180 days to defer the gain until December 31, 2026, and eliminate all taxes on appreciation after 10 years.
A $2M capital gain invested in a QOF: defers $400,000 in taxes until 2026. If the fund doubles to $4M in 10 years, the $2M appreciation is completely tax-free.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockInvest capital gains into a Qualified Opportunity Fund within 180 days to defer the original gain until 2026 and eliminate all appreciation on the QOZ investment after a 10-year hold.
An investor with $500,000 in capital gains invests in a QOZ fund. The $500K gain is deferred to 2026. If the fund grows to $1.5M, the $1M appreciation is completely tax-free.
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Book A Free Strategy Call to UnlockDonor-Advised Funds allow you to bunch 5 years of charitable giving into one year for maximum deduction.
Qualified Opportunity Zone investments can eliminate capital gains taxes on appreciation entirely.
Installment sales spread capital gains across multiple years, keeping you in lower brackets.
