March 31, 2026
Today's Tax Laws Still Require a Plan
Dear Subscriber,
Editor’s note: At 2 p.m. Eastern today, Michael A. Robinson is going to share his “Breakout Signal” with a small group of Weiss Members.
As a Weiss VIP yourself, you can get the link to join this event here.
And you’ll be glad you did. This has already helped Michael’s members take down 16 triple-digit gains.
Even more important, it has been flashing an important signal on Phase 2 of the AI Supercycle.
See what that means here.
Then come right back.
You’ll also want to see how to turn those gains into long-term generational wealth by avoiding one of the costliest mistakes you can make with your estate.
David Phillips has the full story below …
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| By David Phillips |
After 50 years of helping people plan their estates, I have come across many errors that most people make.
There are 10 of them I want to share with you.
Today, however, let’s focus on one of the more egregious of them.
I hear this a lot:
“Current tax laws mean I don’t have to actively plan my estate.”
One of the most common assumptions investors make is that today’s historically high federal estate tax exemption of $15 million per individual means estate planning can be postponed.
While that belief may sound reasonable, it reflects a misunderstanding of how estate planning actually works.
Estate planning is not about predicting tax laws. It is about preparing for uncertainty.
Tax laws change. Planning should not depend on them.
Over the course of my career, I have seen estate tax exemptions fluctuate dramatically.
At times, exemptions were modest and tax rates severe.
Today, exemptions are historically high, which can create a false sense of security.
What ultimately matters is this: The only laws that apply are the ones in effect on the day you die.
No one knows what those laws will be.
Recent legislative changes, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, remind us that Congress regularly revisits tax policy.
Provisions are adjusted, timelines shift and exemptions can be expanded or reduced depending on political and economic pressures.
The central lesson is simple. Tax rules are never permanent.
Even if current exemptions remain unchanged, relying on them as a reason to delay planning ignores several important realities.
Estate planning is about far more than estate taxes.
Federal estate tax is only one potential source of estate shrinkage.
Income taxes on retirement accounts can be significant for heirs, particularly under the current 10-year distribution rules created by the SECURE Act of 2020.
Here’s another guide I put together to navigate that important law.
A large traditional IRA left to children may force accelerated income recognition during their highest earning years.
Probate expenses are calculated on gross asset values rather than net equity.
Sixteen states, plus the District of Columbia, impose their own inheritance or estate taxes — on top of the federal government’s.
Administrative delays and poorly timed asset sales can also erode your estate value.
These risks exist whether an estate owes federal estate tax or not.
There is also a practical issue that receives less attention …
When individuals assume estate taxes are no longer a concern, they often neglect coordination among their documents and beneficiary designations.
- Assets may be titled improperly.
- Trusts may be outdated or never fully funded.
- Beneficiary forms signed decades earlier can override carefully drafted estate documents.
The absence of an estate tax does not eliminate the need for clarity and structure.
Another version of this mistake sounds like, “I will wait until Congress decides what it is going to do.”
Unfortunately, tax legislation is reactive and often temporary.
- Major provisions can sunset automatically.
- Exemptions can be reduced after election cycles.
- Revenue pressures can shift priorities quickly.
Bottom line: Waiting for certainty typically results in inaction.
Meanwhile, life continues. Assets grow. Families change. Health changes.
Plans, if they exist, become outdated.
A properly designed estate plan is not about gaming the tax code. It is about control, clarity and continuity.
- It ensures assets are distributed intentionally and efficiently.
- It provides guidance during emotional moments and reduces the likelihood of family conflict.
- It anticipates circumstances most families would prefer not to confront.
Strong planning also builds flexibility.
Well-structured trusts can adapt to changing exemption levels.
Coordinated beneficiary designations can reduce income tax exposure.
Thoughtful liquidity planning can prevent forced sales.
These strategies remain valuable regardless of what Congress does next.
If your estate plan depends entirely on today’s exemption numbers remaining unchanged, then you do not have a plan.
You have a hope. But hope is not a retirement strategy!
If you are unsure how current laws, future changes or non-tax costs could affect your estate, this is an appropriate time to review your plan with a long-term perspective.
A careful review does not necessarily require sweeping changes.
It simply ensures your planning rests on structure rather than assumption.
Questions about your estate plan?
Our office is available to help you review your current documents and discuss next steps: 888-892-1102.
You can also click here to have us prepare your own personalized Estate Analysis.
Live Well, Leave a Legacy!
David T. Phillips, CEO
Estate Planning Specialists
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