Estate & Charitable Planner LIVE
  • Estate & Charitable Planner LIVE (Web App)
    $495.00

    Updated for One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA 7/2025)

    • Final Regulations for Table 2010CM (Transitional Periods)
    • Updated for SECURE Act 2.0!
    • Updated for the maximum gift annuity rates published by the American Council on Gift Annuities.  Effective date is 1/1/2026.

    Estate & Charitable Planner LIVE is the industry leader in Estate and Charitable planning and calculation software. These two powerhouse products (EPT) Estate Planning Tools and (CFP) Charitable Financial Planner are now combined in one user-friendly product offering. 

    Brentmark LIVE products are delivered entirely online. That means no more updates to chase or download and no more complicated compliance issues every time a new release or update comes out. Every time you log in, you are using the most up-to-date features and version releases.

    This new product has an introductory price of $495 for a single initial license that includes twelve months of coverage. Future annual renewal coverage is only $315 for a single license.  

    For multiple licenses or enterprise licensing, please call 803-781-9595.

    135+ Unique Calculation Models incorporating ALL Models of (EPT) Estate Planning Tools (Desktop) AND (CFP) Charitable Financial Planner (Desktop) Including:

    • Complex Charitable Gift Annuity

    • CRUT as IRA Beneficiary 

    • Rolling GRAT

    • RMD of Owner During Lifetime 

    • FASTPlan: Married Couple Strategy Dispositions
    • Social Security Section
      • Optimizer
      • Spousal Benefits of Qualified Worker
      • Family Survivor Benefits
      • AIME
      • Earnings Test

     

Description

Updated for One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA 7/2025)

New Models Recently Added: 

  • Federal Interest Payable
  • State Interest Payable (for select states)
  • New Unrealized Appreciation (NUA)
  • 5&5 Power   

 

 

  • Final Regulations for Table 2010CM (Transitional Periods)
  • Updated for SECURE Act 2.0
  • Updated for the maximum gift annuity rates published by the American Council on Gift Annuities.  Effective date is 7/1/2025.

Estate & Charitable Planner LIVE is the industry leader in Estate and Charitable Giving planning and calculation software. These two powerhouse products (EPT) Estate Planning Tools and (CFP) Charitable Financial Planner are now combined in one user-friendly product offering. 

135+ Unique Calculation Models incorporating ALL Models of (EPT) Estate Planning Tools (Desktop) AND (CFP) Charitable Financial Planner (Desktop) Including:

    • Complex Charitable Gift Annuity

    • CRUT as IRA Beneficiary 

    • Rolling GRAT

    • RMD of Owner During Lifetime 

    • FASTPlan: Married Couple Strategy Dispositions
    • Social Security Section
      • Optimizer
      • Spousal Benefits of Qualified Worker
      • Family Survivor Benefits
      • AIME
      • Earnings Test

 

Highlights:

  • Run the entire catalog of models in any operating system (Mac or Windows).

  • Most popular modern browsers are supported (Firefox, Edge, Chrome, Safari).

  • The application also runs on most mobile devices (iOS, Android).

  • Never worry if you are running the current version! Seamless online updates.

  • Updated for 2025 Income and Estate Adjustments (review Version History)


(ECPL) Estate & Charitable Planner LIVE now includes the powerful features of two of our most popular programs.

(EPT) Estate Planning Tools (Desktop) Key Features:
(EPT) Estate Planning Tools features over 115+ dynamic planning models in 16 different areas of advanced calculation. (EPT) Estate Planning Tools contains all the necessary calculations to advise your clients on fulfilling their financial and estate planning goals. The detailed and precise graphs and reporting tools are essential tools to help you to determine which options will work best for your client's future with the utmost confidence. Through Brentmark's uniquely robust calculators, (EPT) Estate Planning Tools offers flexible solutions to any practitioner or firm, regardless of size or complexity.

  • 115+ Calculation Models

  • 16 Areas of Calculation

  • Specific Calculation Models:

    • Retirement 

    • Estate Tax

    • Federal & State Death Tax

    • Insurance and Investment

    • Real Estate

    • Financial Goals and Budgeting

    • Trusts

    • Net Worth and Valuation

    • Private Annuities

    • CRUT, CLUT, CRAT, CLAT

    • GRAT, GRUT, QPRT, IDIT

    • Interrelated Estate Tax


Additionally, three models in (ECPL) Estate & Charitable Planner LIVE are not found in (EPT) Estate Planning Tools:

  • Pooled Income Fund

  • Charitable Remainder in Farm/Residence

  • Charitable Gift Annuity - The Charitable Gift Annuity is so robust; it could be a program in and of itself.

  • (EPT) Estate Planning Tools (Desktop) has historical rates based on effective dates back to the 1990s. However, (ECPL) Estate & Charitable Planner LIVE currently has historical rates dated back to February 2009. 


(CFP) Charitable Financial Planner (Desktop) Key Features:
(CFP) Charitable Financial Planner is an advanced tool to aid in complex planned giving calculations. It includes illustrations of capital gains tax savings and income tax deductions.

This program generates high-quality reports and full-color 3D graphs that provide a comparison of different models. (CFP) Charitable Financial Planner contains several models found in (EPT) Estate Planning Tools but expands on several of them, including: 

  • Income Tax reports

  • Capital Gains Tax

  • Tax Savings 

SECURE Act Strategies:
The SECURE Act strategies that are in the application help advisors with alternatives to the Stretch IRA. With the SECURE Act, Stretch IRAs are only allowed for Exempt beneficiaries. These strategies implore ideas on how to structure IRAs to show the most net benefit. 

All of this is in one application that you can use anywhere!

Custom Options

White Label the PDF Reports

  • Corporate logo
  • Use of corporate color palette for graphs, flowcharts and headers
  • Corporate disclaimer 
  • Corporate font

Hosting Options

  • Dedicated server(s) with use of Load Balancer (if servers requested exceed 1), Managed by Brentmark
  • Single Sign On options, depending on the number of licenses

Send a request to support@brentmark.com for more information.

Video Demo

Screenshots

 Main Menu - Estate Planning Tools  Main Menu - Financial Planning Tools  CRAT  GRAT  Estate Tax Screen  Charitable Gift Annuity  Retirement Assets Buy Insurance  CRAT Named Beny of IRA   Interrelated Estate Tax  Private Annuity  Rolling GRAT  Rolling GRAT' Social Security: Optimizer Main Screen Social Security: Optimizer Break Even Results Social Security: Spouse of Qualified Worker Main Screen Social Security: Spouse of Qualified Worker Optimized Results Social Security: Family Survivor Benefits Main Screen  Social Security: Family Survivor Benefits Detailed Results Social Security: Retirement Earnings Test Main Screen Social Security: Retirement Earnings Test Monthly Payments Social Security: AIME Main Screen Social Security: Family Maximum Benefit

Models

Click here download a comparison of models for ECPLive, Estate Planning Tools and Chariable Financial Planner
    Short Description
Valuation Capital Capitalization of Income
Valuation EPS Valuation Through Comparable Stock
Bookvalue Book Value Method
Goodwill Goodwill Valuation
Key Employee Key Employee Valuation
Special Use Special Use Valuation
Ratios Financial Planning Ratios
Tools of Estate Planning Inclusion Inclusion of CRAT, CRUT, GRAT, or GRUT
SCIN Self-Cancelling Installment Note
Priv. Ann Private Annuity
Factors Annuity, Life Estate, and Remainder Factors
Gen. Skip Simplified GSTT Worksheet
GSTT Total Cost of GST Transfer
§529 Qualified Tuition Programs
Gift Loans Gift Loans
Contingent Rev. Contingent Reversion
Trusts QPRT GRIT and Qualified Personal Residence Trust
GRAT Grantor Retained Annuity Trust
Rolling GRAT Rolling GRAT
GRUT Grantor Retained Unitrust
IDIT IDIT Installment Sales
Dynasty Dynasty Trust
SPLIT Split Interest
Bypass Bypass Trust Computation
QDOT Qualified Domestic Trust
     
Charitable CRAT Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust
CRUT Charitable Remainder Unitrust
CLAT Charitable Lead Annuity Trust
CLUT Charitable Lead Unitrust
Table I Naming a Charity as Beneficiary of Group Term Life Insurance
Pooled Fund Pooled Income Fund
Farm Charitable Reminder in Residence or Farm
Gift Annuity Charitable Gift Annuity
Interrelated Interrelated Estate Tax
Estate Planning Techniques Exclusion Estate Tax Advantage of Gift Tax Exclusion
Redemption Substantially Disproportionate Redemptions
§6166 Section 6166 Installment Payment of Estate Tax
§2057 Business Owner's Section 2057 Estate Tax Deduction
Income Shift Advantage of Income Shifting
Install Installment Sale
Group Term Group Term Life Cost
§303 Section 303 Stock Redemptions
Harvester Long-Term Capital Gains and Losses Harvester
Forecaster Estate and Gift Tax Forecaster
5 & 5 Value of Income and "5 & 5" Power
Table 2001 Table 2001 (P.S. 58) Cost
Taxes Estate Tax Gift and Estate Tax Computation
FastPlan Fast Plan
Prior Gifts Prior Gifts
Project Projection of Estate Tax
Marital Ded. Marital Deduction Optimization
Net Gift Tax on a Net Gift
Individuals Individual Income Tax
Corporate Corporate Income Tax
Net Net Gift Tax on a Net Net Gift
Fed Interest Federal Interest Payable
State Interest State Interest Payable
     
Retirement Lump Sum Lump Sum Distributions
Confiscate Retirement Plan Taxation
RMD RMD During Lifetime of Owner
Pre 59.5 Pre-59.5 Distributions
CashNeed Determination of Cash Requirements
CRATIRA IRA Names CRAT as Beneficiary
CRUTIRA IRA Names CRUT as Beneficiary
IRAMax Retirement Account Distributions used to Buy Insurance
NUA Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA)
Present and Future Value Receipts Present Value of an Annuity
Discount Present Value of a Lump Sum
Deferred Deferred Compensation
Compound Future Value of a Lump Sum
Life Expect Life Expectancy
Deposit Deposit Growth
Future Future Value of an Annuity
Chances Chance of Survival
§199A General §199A Deduction for SSTB and Non-SSTB
> Entity §199A Deduction when Several Passthrough Entities are Owned
EstateTrust §199A Deduction for Estate and Non-Grantor Trusts
SuperDed Impact of Retirement Plan Contributions on §199A Deduction
C vs S Corp C Corporation vs S Corporation
W2 vs 1099 W2 Employee vs Independent Contractor Analysis
Farm §199A(g) Deduction for Specified Agriculture or Horticulture
Social Security Optimizer Social Security Optimizer
Spousal Social Security for Spouse of Qualified Worker
Family Max Family Maximum Benefit
Survivor Family Survivor Benefits
AIME Average Indexed Monthly Earnings Calculator
Earnings Test Retirement Earnings Test
Present Value Social Security Benefits
Taxable Portion Taxable Social Security Benefits Under OBRA 93
IRMAA Income-Related Medicare Premium Adjustment
     
Investments Stock Common Stock 
Bond Comprehensive Bond
Return Annual Rate of Return
Analyzer Investment and Cash Flow
HPR Holding Period Return
Pr Val Present Value of Investment
IRR Internal Rate of Return
Inflation Erosion Erosion of Purchasing Power
Fundlife Fundlife Calculator
Assets Inflation Adjusted Income Analysis
Income Income Due to and Investment Fund
College College Cost Estimator
Contribute Contributions Required to Reach Goal
Sum Needed Lump Sum Needed for Increasing Annuity
Real Estate After Tax After-Tax Return on an Investment
Amortize Amortization Schedule
Breakeven Break-Even Period Refinancing
Compare Mortgage Comparison Schedule
Double Double Payments on Retirement of a Mortgage
Loan Rate Break-Even Interest Rate Comparison
Mortgage Mortgage Payment Calculator
Loan Payment Loan Payment
Insurance Life ROR Rate of Return on Life Insurance
Net Cost Net Cost of Life Insurance
Net Clear Net Clear Death Benefit
Buyout Business Buyout Analyzer
Needs Analysis Insurance Needs Analysis
Group Total Cost of Group Term Life Insurance
Interrupt Need for Business Interruption Insurance
DB ROR Death Benefit Rate of Return
Net Worth Net Worth Net Worth Analysis and Projector
Portfolio Security Portfolio Analyzer
Social Security Taxable Social Security Benefits Under OBRA 93
Withdraw Periodic Withdrawals from an Investment
Compounding How Compounding Builds Net Worth
Increase Pay Future Value of Increasing Payments
Financial Goas Summary Summary of Financial Objectives
Accumulate Accumulation Planning Worksheet
Educate Educational Funding Analysis
Retire Retirement Analysis
Security Social Security Benefits
Benefit Present Value of Future Retirement Benefits
FET Discount Federal Estate Tax Discount
IRMAA Income-Related Medicare Premium Adjustment
Budgeting Budget Income and Expenses Report
Cash Flow Monthly Cash Flow Report
Dividend Dividend and Interest Income Report
Loan Term Term of Loan Calculator
Marginal After-Tax Return and Cost Calculator
Outlay Cost of an Outlay
Extra Pay Extra Loan Payment Analyzer

 

 

Product Comparison

Click here to download comparison of models for ECPLive, Estate Planning Tools and Chariable Financial Planner

    Short Description ECPLive Estate Planning Tools Charitable Financial Planner
Valuation Capital Capitalization of Income Yes Yes  
Valuation EPS Valuation Through Comparable Stock Yes Yes  
Bookvalue Book Value Method Yes Yes  
Goodwill Goodwill Valuation Yes Yes  
Key Employee Key Employee Valuation Yes Yes  
Special Use Special Use Valuation Yes Yes  
Ratios Financial Planning Ratios Yes Yes  
Tools of Estate Planning Inclusion Inclusion of CRAT, CRUT, GRAT, or GRUT Yes Yes  
SCIN Self-Cancelling Installment Note Yes Yes  
Priv. Ann Private Annuity Yes Yes  
Factors Annuity, Life Estate, and Remainder Factors Yes Yes  
Gen. Skip Simplified GSTT Worksheet Yes Yes  
GSTT Total Cost of GST Transfer Yes Yes  
§529 Qualified Tuition Programs Yes Yes  
Gift Loans Gift Loans Yes Yes  
Contingent Rev. Contingent Reversion Yes Yes  
Trusts QPRT GRIT and Qualified Personal Residence Trust Yes Yes Yes
GRAT Grantor Retained Annuity Trust Yes Yes Yes
Rolling GRAT Rolling GRAT Yes    
GRUT Grantor Retained Unitrust Yes Yes Yes
IDIT IDIT Installment Sales Yes Yes  
Dynasty Dynasty Trust Yes Yes  
SPLIT Split Interest Yes Yes  
Bypass Bypass Trust Computation Yes Yes  
QDOT Qualified Domestic Trust Yes Yes  
           
Charitable CRAT Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust Yes Yes Yes
CRUT Charitable Remainder Unitrust Yes Yes Yes
CLAT Charitable Lead Annuity Trust Yes Yes Yes
CLUT Charitable Lead Unitrust Yes Yes Yes
Table I Naming a Charity as Beneficiary of Group Term Life Insurance Yes Yes  
Pooled Fund Pooled Income Fund Yes   Yes
Farm Charitable Reminder in Residence or Farm Yes   Yes
Gift Annuity Charitable Gift Annuity Yes   Yes
Interrelated Interrelated Estate Tax Yes Yes Yes
Estate Planning Techniques Exclusion Estate Tax Advantage of Gift Tax Exclusion Yes Yes  
Redemption Substantially Disproportionate Redemptions Yes Yes  
§6166 Section 6166 Installment Payment of Estate Tax Yes Yes  
§2057 Business Owner's Section 2057 Estate Tax Deduction Yes Yes  
Income Shift Advantage of Income Shifting Yes Yes  
Install Installment Sale Yes Yes  
Group Term Group Term Life Cost Yes Yes  
§303 Section 303 Stock Redemptions Yes Yes  
Harvester Long-Term Capital Gains and Losses Harvester Yes Yes  
Forecaster Estate and Gift Tax Forecaster Yes Yes  
5 & 5 Value of Income and "5 & 5" Power Yes    
Table 2001 Table 2001 (P.S. 58) Cost Yes Yes  
Taxes Estate Tax Gift and Estate Tax Computation Yes Yes  
FastPlan Fast Plan Yes Yes  
Prior Gifts Prior Gifts Yes Yes  
Project Projection of Estate Tax Yes Yes  
Marital Ded. Marital Deduction Optimization Yes Yes  
Net Gift Tax on a Net Gift Yes Yes  
Individuals Individual Income Tax Yes Yes  
Corporate Corporate Income Tax Yes Yes  
Net Net Gift Tax on a Net Net Gift Yes Yes  
Fed Interest Federal Interest Payable Yes    
State Interest State Interest Payable Yes    
           
Retirement Lump Sum Lump Sum Distributions Yes Yes  
Confiscate Retirement Plan Taxation Yes Yes  
RMD RMD During Lifetime of Owner Yes Yes  
Pre 59.5 Pre-59.5 Distributions Yes Yes  
CashNeed Determination of Cash Requirements Yes Yes  
CRATIRA IRA Names CRAT as Beneficiary Yes    
CRUTIRA IRA Names CRUT as Beneficiary Yes    
IRAMax Retirement Account Distributions used to Buy Insurance Yes    
NUA Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) Yes    
Present and Future Value Receipts Present Value of an Annuity Yes Yes  
Discount Present Value of a Lump Sum Yes Yes  
Deferred Deferred Compensation Yes Yes  
Compound Future Value of a Lump Sum Yes Yes  
Life Expect Life Expectancy Yes Yes  
Deposit Deposit Growth Yes Yes  
Future Future Value of an Annuity Yes Yes  
Chances Chance of Survival Yes Yes  
§199A General §199A Deduction for SSTB and Non-SSTB Yes Yes  
> Entity §199A Deduction when Several Passthrough Entities are Owned Yes Yes  
EstateTrust §199A Deduction for Estate and Non-Grantor Trusts Yes Yes  
SuperDed Impact of Retirement Plan Contributions on §199A Deduction Yes Yes  
C vs S Corp C Corporation vs S Corporation Yes Yes  
W2 vs 1099 W2 Employee vs Independent Contractor Analysis Yes Yes  
Farm §199A(g) Deduction for Specified Agriculture or Horticulture Yes Yes  
Social Security Optimizer Social Security Optimizer Yes Yes  
Spousal Social Security for Spouse of Qualified Worker Yes    
Family Max Family Maximum Benefit Yes    
Survivor Family Survivor Benefits Yes    
AIME Average Indexed Monthly Earnings Calculator Yes    
Earnings Test Retirement Earnings Test Yes    
Present Value Social Security Benefits Yes Yes  
Taxable Portion Taxable Social Security Benefits Under OBRA 93 Yes Yes  
IRMAA Income-Related Medicare Premium Adjustment Yes Yes  
           
Investments Stock Common Stock  Yes Yes  
Bond Comprehensive Bond Yes Yes  
Return Annual Rate of Return Yes Yes  
Analyzer Investment and Cash Flow Yes Yes  
HPR Holding Period Return Yes Yes  
Pr Val Present Value of Investment Yes Yes  
IRR Internal Rate of Return Yes Yes  
Inflation Erosion Erosion of Purchasing Power Yes Yes  
Fundlife Fundlife Calculator Yes Yes  
Assets Inflation Adjusted Income Analysis Yes Yes  
Income Income Due to and Investment Fund Yes Yes  
College College Cost Estimator Yes Yes  
Contribute Contributions Required to Reach Goal Yes Yes  
Sum Needed Lump Sum Needed for Increasing Annuity Yes Yes  
Real Estate After Tax After-Tax Return on an Investment Yes Yes  
Amortize Amortization Schedule Yes Yes  
Breakeven Break-Even Period Refinancing Yes Yes  
Compare Mortgage Comparison Schedule Yes Yes  
Double Double Payments on Retirement of a Mortgage Yes Yes  
Loan Rate Break-Even Interest Rate Comparison Yes Yes  
Mortgage Mortgage Payment Calculator Yes Yes  
Loan Payment Loan Payment Yes Yes  
Insurance Life ROR Rate of Return on Life Insurance Yes Yes  
Net Cost Net Cost of Life Insurance Yes Yes  
Net Clear Net Clear Death Benefit Yes Yes  
Buyout Business Buyout Analyzer Yes Yes  
Needs Analysis Insurance Needs Analysis Yes Yes  
Group Total Cost of Group Term Life Insurance Yes Yes  
Interrupt Need for Business Interruption Insurance Yes Yes  
DB ROR Death Benefit Rate of Return Yes Yes  
Net Worth Net Worth Net Worth Analysis and Projector Yes Yes  
Portfolio Security Portfolio Analyzer Yes Yes  
Social Security Taxable Social Security Benefits Under OBRA 93 Yes Yes  
Withdraw Periodic Withdrawals from an Investment Yes Yes  
Compounding How Compounding Builds Net Worth Yes Yes  
Increase Pay Future Value of Increasing Payments Yes Yes  
Financial Goas Summary Summary of Financial Objectives Yes Yes  
Accumulate Accumulation Planning Worksheet Yes Yes  
Educate Educational Funding Analysis Yes Yes  
Retire Retirement Analysis Yes Yes  
Security Social Security Benefits Yes Yes  
Benefit Present Value of Future Retirement Benefits Yes Yes  
FET Discount Federal Estate Tax Discount Yes Yes  
IRMAA Income-Related Medicare Premium Adjustment Yes Yes  
Budgeting Budget Income and Expenses Report Yes Yes  
Cash Flow Monthly Cash Flow Report Yes Yes  
Dividend Dividend and Interest Income Report Yes Yes  
Loan Term Term of Loan Calculator Yes Yes  
Marginal After-Tax Return and Cost Calculator Yes Yes  
Outlay Cost of an Outlay Yes Yes  
Extra Pay Extra Loan Payment Analyzer Yes Yes  

Requirements

Requirements: 
Brentmark highly recommends having the latest version of your modern browser installed. You will need to have your browser settings adjusted to allow popups and cookies. You will receive instructions on modifying your browser settings via email once your license(s) are purchased. Setting instructions can also be found in your Portal Dashboard (next to where you launch the application). 

Version Information

2026.11  (01/24/2026)

  • 2026 RI Estate Credit
  • 2026 WA Estate Exclusion
  • Federal Interest Model- First Quarter 2026 updated
  • State Interest Payable model has been updated for CA and VA
  • CRAT, CRUT, Pooled Funds, Farm, and Gift Annuity models - the Income tax input section no longer has the sunset option and the Bonus Elderly Deduction from OBBBA has been added to the report.
  • Copyright updated for User Interface and Reports

2026.10  (12/23/2025)

  • 2026 IRMAA Adjustments
  • 2026 §199A Adjustments: Minimum $400 credit introduced, and phase ranges have been updated or Joint ($150,000) and all others ($75,000)
  • 2026 Gift Annuity Rates
  • Receipts model has been updated to allow for more than 50 years of calculations
  • State Interest Payable model has been updated for NY, NJ and PA
  • To Be updated for 2026.11 (once released from governing sites) - state estate exclusions for remaining states and 2026 interest rates for Federal and State Interest payable models

2026.00  (11/02/2025)

  • 2026 Income Tax Adjustments - this will impact several screens: CRAT, CRUT, Pooled Income Fund, Farm/Residence, Gift Annuity, Individual Income Tax, Corporate Income Tax, CRATIRA, CRUTIRA, QP Buys Insurance.
  • 2026 §199A Adjustments - this will impact several screens: General, >1 Entity, Estate/Trust, SuperDed, C vs S Corp, Individual vs Employee, Farm
  • 2026 Estate Tax Adjustments - this will impact several screens: Estate Tax, Prior Gifts, Bypass, Project, MarDed, Net Gift, Cash Need, Confiscate, Interrelated Estate Tax, Exclusion, §6166
  • 2026 Social Security Adjustments - this will impact several screens: Optimizer, Spousal, Family Max, Survivor, AIME, Earning Test
  • Special Use Valuation - updated the special use value for 2024, which is released in September 2025
  • Federal Interest Model- 2025 Federal Interest Payable updated for all quarters
  • State Interest Model- State Interest Payable rates updated for all currently released interest rates for: PA, DE, NY, NJ, WA, OH, CA, IL
  • 2026 NY Estate Exclusion (projection)
  • SPLIT Model - issue with AFR automation when changing date
  • To Be updated for 2026.10 (once released from governing sites) - state estate exclusions for remaining states, IRMAA adjustments, and 2026 interest rates for Federal and State Interest payable models, Possible changes to Gift Annuity Rates

2025.30  (08/18/2025)

  • OBBBA Estate Tax changes, including updated 2026 Estate Tax Exclusion ($15M), and Sunset option no longer applicable, impacting: Bypass, QDOT, Interrelated, §6166, Estate Tax, Prior Gifts, Project, Marital Deduction, Net Gift, Net Net Gift, FastPlan, Confiscate, CRUT as IRA Beneficiary, CRAT as IRA Beneficiary, and Cash Needs
  • OBBBA Income Tax changes, including BONUS Elderly deduction and Sunset option no longer applicable, impacting: Individual and NUA models.

2025.02  (01/13/2025)

  • Copyright updated to 2025 on PDF report
  • §7520 for January updated, was showing as 5.0%.
  • FastPlan: Updated the maximum unified credit allowable for years 2026 when sunset has been selected.

2025.01  (12/20/2024)

  • Estate Exclusions for 2025: District of Columbia, NY and RI were updated for 2025 adjustment. 

2025.00  (11/20/2024)

  • 2025 Income Tax Adjustments:  This update will impact and be visible on several screens: CRAT, CRUT, Pooled Income Fund, Farm/Residence, Gift Annuity, Individual Income Tax, Corporate Income Tax, CRATIRA, CRUTIRA, QP Buys Insurance.
  • 2025 §199A Adjustments:  This update will impact several screens: General, >1 Entity, Estate/Trust, SuperDed, C vs. S Corp, Individual vs. Employee, Farm.
  • 2025 Estate Tax Adjustments:  This update will be evident on several screens: Estate Tax, Prior Gifts, Bypass, Project, MarDed, Net Gift, Cash Need, Confiscate, Interrelated Estate Tax, Exclusion, §6166.  
  • 2025 IRMAA Adjustments:  Medicare Part B and D updated for 2025. This model is found under the Financial Planning side of the application. 
  • 2025 Social Security Adjustments: this will impact several models: Optimizer, Spousal, Family Max, Survivor, AIME, and Earnings Test.
  • Special Use Valuation: the 2024 Special Use Value for 2024 has been updated, which was released in September 2024 from the IRS.
  • State Estate Exclusions Updated:  
    • NY - 2025 $7,140,000
  • FastPlan Joint Liabilities were not being shown correctly.
  • RollingGRAT Sub-report of successive GRATs was modified.

2024.13 (03/22/2024)

  • CT Estate Tax: Starting in 2023, CT mirros the Federal Estate Tax Exclusion - however, the calculations were still considering a bottom floor bracket (equal to the exclusion), which reflected the CT tax to be off- this was introduced in version 2024.12.

2024.12 (03/16/2024)

  • CT Estate Tax: For 2023 and 2024 calculations, the maximum estate tax of $15M was not implemented.
  • Federal Interest Payable Model: this was updated for 2nd Quarter interest rates.

2024.11 (02/12/2024)

  • Estate Tax Model: calculations for MA, where out of state property was considered was was prorating the credit ($99,600) incorrectly for years 2023+.
  • CRAT Model: the optimization routine for a TERM calculation was not optimizing based on the selected AFR (prior month), which resulted in a Charitable Remainder greater than 10%.
  • Loan Payment Model: the PDF report now shows the schedule in cents format.

2024.10  (01/6/2024)

  • Gift Annuity Model: updated to include the maximum gift annuity rates published by the American Counter on Gift Annuities (ACGA).  These rates have an effective date of 1/1/2024.
  • State Interest Payable Model - updated for California for date range 1/1/2024 through 6/30/2024.  A minor bug was also fixed for CA regarding the 3% adjustment to the Federal rates.
  • State Interest Payable Model - updated for Pennsylvania for date range 1/1/2024 through 12/31/2024.  
  • Estate Exclusions for 2024: District of Columbia was updated for 2024 adjustment.  NY and RI were updated in a prior version.

2024.00  (12/18/2023)

 

  • 2024 Income Tax Adjustments:  This update will impact and be visible on several screens: CRAT, CRUT, Pooled Income Fund, Farm/Residence, Gift Annuity, Individual Income Tax, Corporate Income Tax, CRATIRA, CRUTIRA, QP Buys Insurance.
  • 2024 §199A Adjustments:  This update will impact several screens: General, >1 Entity, Estate/Trust, SuperDed, C vs. S Corp, Individual vs. Employee, Farm.
  • 2024 Estate Tax Adjustments:  This update will be evident on several screens: Estate Tax, Prior Gifts, Bypass, Project, MarDed, Net Gift, Cash Need, Confiscate, Interrelated Estate Tax, Exclusion, §6166.  
  • 2024 IRMAA Adjustments:  Medicare Part B and D updated for 2023. This model is found under the Financial Planning side of the application. 
  • 2024 Social Security Adjustments: this will impact several models: Optimizer, Spousal, Family Max, Survivor, AIME, and Earnings Test.
  • Special Use Valuation: the 2023 Special Use Value for 2023 has been updated, which was released in September 2023 from the IRS.
  • New Model: Federal Interest Payable
  • New Model: State Interest Payable (for select states)
  • State Estate Exclusions Updated:  
    • NY - 2024 $6,940,000
    • RI - Credit $83,370 ($1,774,583)

 

2023.30  (06/23/2023)

  • Final Regulations for table 2010CM - Transition Period. The proposed regulations released in May 2022 had the transition period starting 1/2021. The Final regulations have reset the transition preiod start to 5/1/2019, and allows for amended calculations based on using either mortality table 2000CM or 2010CM.  During 5/1/2019 through and including 6/1/2023, the user can select either table.  Most models in the application used a valuation/transfer date in the format MM/YYYY.  These models were modified to allow the format MM/DD/YYYY, specifically to allow for the effective date of 6/1/2023 to be included in the transtion.  For calculations 6/2/2023+, table 2010CM must be used.  20 Models were impacted by this change: Factors, SCIN, Private Annuity, Contingent Reversion, QPRT, GRAT, Rolling GRAT, GRUT, SPLIT, CRAT, CRUT, CLAT, CLUT, Pooled Income Fund, Farm, Gift Annuity, 5&5 Power, Net Net Gift, CRAT Named as an IRA Beneficiary, CRUT Named as an IRA Beneficiary.
  • Final Regulations for table 2010CM - Interpolation.  Taxpayers may use an exact method of obtaining the applicable factors, such as through software using the actual rate of return and the actuarial formulas provided in the regulations, in place of the generally less accruate interpolation method.  Models have been updated to allow for the user to select between Interpolation and Exact methods.  Models that were impacted by this change: CRUT, CLUT, CRUT as IRA Beneficiary.
  • CRUT model - this model allows for income tax reports, but were out of scope if the user was doing a calculation for an estate tax deduction.  The report option to include the Income Tax report was modified to reflect the type of Deduction to calculate - if the selection is 'Estate', then the additional inputs needed for income tax deductions are hidden, as well as the additional reports specific to income tax deductions.
  • CRAT model - this model allows for income tax reports, but were out of scope if the user was doing a calculation for an estate tax deduction.  The report option to include the Income Tax report was modified to reflect the type of Deduction to calculate - if the selection is 'Estate', then the additional inputs needed for income tax deductions are hidden, as well as the additional reports specific to income tax deductions.
  • New rendering of supplemental information for the 20 models that were modified.  When viewing things like help files or the AFR table, the resources have been modified to allow for a better user experience.  The remaining models will be updated to reflece these same changes in the next version.
  • The version number o fthe web application now appears at the top under the program title.  For prior versions, the version number only appeared in the footer of each screen.

2023.20  (06/09/2023)

  • Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) Model added.
  • Value of Income and 5&5 Power Model added.
  • Renamed QP Buys Insurance to IRA Max.

2023.11  (01/19/2023)

  • RMD of Owner During Lifetime (RMD):  updated to reflect the required minimum distribution age as set forth in SECURE Act 2.0.
  • State Exclusion Adjustments: updated to include RI, DC, and ME adjustments for 2023.  NY was updated in 2023.10.
  • Installment Sale (Install):  modified the explanatory text to include information of §453A when the total amount of installment obligation does not exceed $5 million.

2023.10  (12/10/2022)

  • Gift Annuity Model: updated to include the maximum gift annuity rates published by the American Counter on Gift Annuities (ACGA).  These rates have an effective date of 1/1/2023.
  • Social Security Optimizer Model: Added an input to allow for duration of analysis, with an allowable range of 72-109.  Prior versions forced the analysis to age 84.
  • Estate Model: State Deduction for Federal Calculation- When a (+) state adjustment is applied to the state only, the program used to calculate the state deduction based on a pro-rata computation.  It was determined that this needed to be changed to an incremental computation.

2023.00  (10/31/2022)

  • 2023 Income Tax Adjustments:  This update will impact and be visible on several screens: CRAT, CRUT, Pooled Income Fund, Farm/Residence, Gift Annuity, Individual Income Tax, Corporate Income Tax, CRATIRA, CRUTIRA, QP Buys Insurance.
  • 2023 §199A Adjustments:  This update will impact several screens: General, >1 Entity, Estate/Trust, SuperDed, C vs. S Corp, Individual vs. Employee, Farm.
  • 2023 Estate Tax Adjustments:  This update will be evident on several screens: Estate Tax, Prior Gifts, Bypass, Project, MarDed, Net Gift, Cash Need, Confiscate, Interrelated Estate Tax, Exclusion, §6166.  
  • 2023 IRMAA Adjustments:  Medicare Part B and D updated for 2023. This model is found under the Financial Planning side of the application. 
  • 2023 Social Security Adjustments: this will impact several models: Optimizer, Spousal, Family Max, Survivor, AIME, and Earnings Test.
  • Special Use Valuation: the 2022 Special Use Value for 2022 has been updated, which was released in September 2022 from the IRS.
  • Extra Payment Model: modified the input for the extra amount to allow for cents.
  • GRUT/CLUT: economic schedules now reflect 1/2 the growth accumulated in the period in the income calculation.  The CRUT model was updated versions ago to reflect this.
  • CRUT as IRA Beneficiary: Added an input 'Death Before RBD?', which allows for RMD calculations based on the latest IRS regulations.  Changed the label 'SECURE Act Option' to 'Equal Payments with Growth'.  Added the input for sunset option in 2026.  Fixed minor issue where beneficiary's AGI was not greater than the standard deduction.
  • CRAT as IRA Beneficiary: Added an input 'Death Before RBD?', which allows for RMD calculations based on the latest IRS regulations.  Changed the label 'SECURE Act Option' to 'Equal Payments with Growth'.  Added the input for sunset option in 2026.  Fixed minor issue where beneficiary's AGI was not greater than the standard deduction.

 

2022.31  (08/06/2022)

  • Prior Gifts Model: added the ability to enter up to 50 years of gifts.   Prior versions only allowed up to 18 years.
  • Estate Model: Projected calculations with Sunsetting selected (years 2026+), the clawback adjustment was not using the inflation rate entered.
  • CLAT Model: a small calculations change was made for cases where the inputs contained three lives or more.
  • CRUT Model: the disclaimer that prints in the PDF was overlapping the graph.
  • GRAT Model: added a toggle to switch from annual to periodic compounding.
  • Double Model: the schedule for double payments, did not show the last year of the term when the original term was an odd number. 

2022.30  (05/26/2022)

  • Gift Annuity Model: updated to include the maximum gift annuity rates published by the American Counter on Gift Annuities (ACGA).  These rates have an effective date of 7/1/2022.
  • Charitable Remainder in Residence or Farm: Modified the summary report (1 description).

2022.20  (05/12/2022)

  • 2010CM Mortality Table: Proposed table with transition rules has been added to 22 models!  
  • Option to Include/Exclude Tax reports: Added for models: CRAT, CRUT, Charitable Remainder in Residence/Farm, and Charitable Gift Annuity
  • CLAT Model: Increasing Annuity Payment was capped at 20%, mirroring the GRAT.  There is no need for limit for CLAT.  Also, the optimize function was only considering up to 5 decimal places for the payout percentage - the optimizer will now return the value in dollar format.
  • Life Expectancy Model: When §1.401(a)(9)(2022) was selected, it was not listed as the mortality table in the input report (was blank). 
  • GRAT Model: The FMV now allows cents to be entered for the user input field.
  • Chances Model: Added an input to switch mortality tables.
  • CRAT Model: increased the payout percentage input from 3 decimal places to 5 decimal places.

2022.10  (02/08/2022)

  • 2022 State Death Tax changes: Updated DC changes for 2022.
  • IRS Notice 2022-6: Models have been updated to reflect the changes for SEPP calculations for 2022+. 

2022.01  (01/08/2022)

  • 2022 State Death Tax changes: Updated states NY, ME, RI, and IA.  IA was also updated to reflect changes for 2023-2025.
  • Models Gift Annuity and Interrelated were not retaining the Report Options when using the Save Calculation feature.
  • Model FastPlan: when creating a case for a single client, the program went unresponsive when using Annual Gift Exclusions.
  • Version 2022.00 had about 30 models that had enhanced reports and graphs.  Version 2022.01 contains the same enhancements for the rest of the models (~100).
 

2022.00  (12/19/2021)

  • 2022 Income Tax Adjustments:  This update will impact and be visible on several screens: CRAT, CRUT, Pooled Income Fund, Farm/Residence, Gift Annuity, Individual Income Tax, Corporate Income Tax, CRATIRA, CRUTIRA, QP Buys Insurance.
  • 2022 §199A Adjustments:  This update will impact several screens: General, >1 Entity, Estate/Trust, SuperDed, C vs. S Corp, Individual vs. Employee, Farm.
  • 2022 Estate Tax Adjustments:  This update will be evident on several screens: Estate Tax, Prior Gifts, Bypass, Project, MarDed, Net Gift, Cash Need, Confiscate, Interrelated Estate Tax, Exclusion, §6166.  
  • 2022 IRMAA Adjustments:  Medicare Part B and D updated for 2021. This model is found under the Financial Planning side of the application. 
  • 2022 Social Security Adjustments: this will impact several models: Optimizer, Spousal, Family Max, Survivor, AIME, and Earnings Test.
  • Special Use Valuation: the 2021 Special Use Value for 2021 has been updated, which was released in September from the IRS.
  • Prior Gifts Model: Added additional years for prior gifts.  Prior versions allowed up to 12 unique entries, the current limit is 18.  Additionaly, enhanced the output report.
  • IRMAA Model: added an input for inflation to project future years.
  • CRUT Model: The optimization routine for percentage payout needed a minor modification for when the optimized result was greater than 25%.
  • QPRT Model: The printed graph (PDF) had the legend labels switched.
  • PDF Reports: removed the large Brentmark logo from the top right of the cover page and replaced it with a small 'Powered By Brentmark' logo near the bottom. 
  • Several models have been updated with enhanced reports.

 

2021.21 (7/1/2021)

  • CLUT Model - The onscreen report was not displayed.  This did not impact the PDF report generated from the application.
  • GRAT Model - Added an additional input report that prints (PDF).  This report will show if the annuity payments Vary - the report will show the percentage payout each year, along with the payment.
  • CLAT Model - Added an additional input report that prints (PDF).  This report will show if the annuity payments Vary - the report will show the percentage payout each year, along with the payment.
  • Rolling GRAT Model - When the number of years (or GRAT's created) is less than 5, one of the printed input reports was not formatted properly.
  • Future Value of Increasing Payments Model - found when clicking Financial Planning Tools on the main menu, the calculation was not shown in the menu under the Net Worth category.

 

2021.20 (6/5/2021)

  • QDOT Model – (New) Found under the Trusts column, this model shows the impact of estate tax whent the surviving spouse is a non-U.S. citizen.  It shows three scenarios: a) No QDOT considered, b) QDOT considered, c) Bypass Trust set up for first to die, with excess remaining estate values placed into the QDOT.  Model handles both resident and non-resident non-U.S. citizens.
  • Forecaster Model - (New) Found under the Techniques column, this allows the user to calculate the estate and gift taxes under user-defined inputs, such as estate and gift tax exclusions, tax brackets, and portablity of the DSUE.  This model is powerful when projecting upcoming tax changes.
  • Net Net Gift Model - (New) Found under the Taxes column, this model calculates the taxable gift when the donee pays not only the gift tax from the gift, but also the estate tax liability (§2035(b)) if the donor dies within three years of making the gift.
  • Harvester Model - (New) Found under the Techniques column, this model calculates 'What-If' scenarios for an asset that could have a capital gain or loss. It calculates projections if you were to hold on to the asset for a certain number of years and then realize the gain/loss in the following year.  This model allows for two different approaches: 1) AGI Method 2) Tax Rates Method.  For quick calculations or to project future capital gains tax legislation, use the Tax Rates Method.  The AGI Method allows for in depth calculations based off the existing capital gains tax rules - it will show how the Capital Gain impacts §1411.
  • Contingent Reversion - Moved the model from the Trusts column, to the Tools column.

2021.12 (4/15/2021)

 

  • Amortize Model – When the option asked the user to enter inputs based on Monthly (not Yearly), and the months are not divisible by 12, the Summary Page displayed the "Months in Last Year" result incorrectly (it defaulted to a full year).
  • CRAT as IRA - 
    • The CRUT/CRAT Schedule had the wrong heading at the top of the page when printed. 
    • Minor text changes were made to the Introduction and Assumptions pages to make the content more readable.
  • CRUT as IRA - 
    • The CRUT/CRAT Schedule had the wrong heading at the top of the page when printed.
    • Minor text changes were made to the Introduction and Assumptions pages to make the content more readable.
  • UI/UX Improvements - 
    • Minor text changes were made to the Introduction and Assumptions pages in CRUT as IRA Beneficiary and CRAT as IRA Beneficiary to make the content more readable.
    • Formatting improvements were made to schedules that exceed one page. These schedules were missing a schedule frame around the last row at the bottom of the first page.
    • Factors Model - When saving data, the calculation selection (Life Estate and Remainder) was not retained. This function has been corrected.
    • Gift Loans Model - A "Loan Date input" was added to help users determine the AFR used. An "Information Bubble" has been added next to the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR) that will show Short, Mid, and Long Term Applicable Federal Rates for the last year, based on period.
    • Dynasty Trust Model - An "Information Bubble" has been added next to the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR) that will show Short, Mid, and Long Term Applicable Federal Rates for the last year, based on period.
    • IDIT Model - An "Information Bubble" has been added next to the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR) that will show Short, Mid, and Long Term Applicable Federal Rates for the last year, based on period.
    • SCIN Model - An "Information Bubble" has been added next to the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR) that will show Short, Mid, and Long Term Applicable Federal Rates for the last year, based on period.
    • Gift Annuity - Within the input section for Income Tax, the inputs for Capital Gain (Total Long-Term, 28% Rate, and Unrecaptured §1250) were not showing properly and have been corrected.
    • IRMAA Model - A secondary link on the Estate Planning section, under the Social Security section, has been added. The model is also available under the Financial Planning section, in the Financial Goals column.
    • Net Clear Model - This model did not have the Report Options section included on the input screen and has been corrected.
    • Data File saving has been optimized to speed up the process and reduce the file size downloaded or uploaded by confining the process to a more specific model data structure.
  • GRAT Model - 
    • Added the new ability to switch decimal digits of the payout like the (EPT) Estate Planning Tools (Desktop) program. It was introduced in version 2020.02. You can select between using five digits (historical calculations) or based on the size of the (FMV) Fair Market Value. 
    • Added the new ability to select between "No," "Constant Rate," and "Non-Constant Rate" varying annuity payments. This feature was added to accommodate the Non-constant varying annuity case.
    • Two featured options are not new but allow the user to select between the varying annuity option. For the Non-Constant Rate case, the application currently has a ceiling value of 45 years, and anything above that will use the last rate entered (45th). 
    • When turning the Optimize Feature "On," the optimized rate is returned as a label on the form. When you turned the feature "Off," the Optimized Value is now used as a default in the "Payout" field. The user can now adjust the optimized rate based on the desire to have an additional Taxable Gift or true zero Taxable Gift.
    • The Printout Report has been modified to use newer report tools, with headers, footers, etc.
    • The onscreen graph has been improved to allow for instant changes.
    • Calculations using Constant Rate Varying Annuity Payments now use the same algorithm for the Annuity Factor in (EPT) Estate Planning Tools (Desktop) version 2020.02+.
  • CLAT Model -  
    • For the Non-Constant Rate case, the application currently has a ceiling value of 45 years, and anything above that will use the last rate entered (45th). This modification allows for SharkFin CLATs.
    • When turning the Optimize Feature "On," the optimized rate is returned as a label on the form. When you turned the feature "Off," the Optimized Value is now used as a default in the "Payout" field. The user can now adjust the optimized rate based on the desire to have an additional Taxable Gift or true zero Taxable Gift.
    • The Printout Report has been modified to use newer report tools, with headers, footers, etc.
    • The onscreen graph has been improved to allow for instant changes.
    • Calculations using Constant Rate Varying Annuity Payments now use the same algorithm for the Annuity Factor in (EPT) Estate Planning Tools (Desktop) version 2020.02+.
    • The "Percentage Payout" input now allows for up to five decimal places for payout (this is an increase from three decimal places).
  • Rolling GRAT Model - 
    • A new input has been added to allow for a Constant Growth of Annuity Payout, up to 20%. To fully optimize this model, it is suggested to enter 20%. 
    • New tables have been added to the printouts illustrating how each GRAT is created based on prior GRAT payouts. 
    • A minor improvement has been made to the last GRAT in the analysis. The remainder was being illustrated as going to the beneficiary, even though the last GRAT payments are included back in the estate of the Grantor.  

 

2021.11 (2/28/2021)

  • NEW UI/UX: Main Menu has been redesigned for easier navigating.
  • Factors Model: We updated the input for the FMV/Payment input to allow dollars and cents.  Prior versions only allowed a dollar format.
  • Rolling GRAT: The Remainder to Beneficiary Report - In the first year that excess was transferred, a growth value (equal to the growth rate entered) was being used (for instance, if you entered 6%, a $6 growth was added in the first year).   Years after the first year were properly illustrating the growth.   Schedules that had $0 in a field were shown as blank (NULL) - this has changed to illustrate $0 in these cases.
  • Estate Model: The amount entered in Outside of State Property was not adjusting the state tax due for a decoupled state, except for MD and NY.  The "workaround" was to use the state credit input field to adjust the tax.  This has been resolved, and "workaround" steps are no longer necessary.
  • FastPlan: The first to die's DSUE (when applicable) was using the Adjusted Prior Taxable Gifts input to assume that the Unified Credit Used was always the maximum amount based on the entered Adjusted Prior Taxable Gifts.  This is the case for most analyses, but the model has been updated to reflect when the maximum is not assumed.

 

2021.10 (2/6/2021) 

  • NEW Model: FastPlan, found under the 'Taxes' column.  This model allows a side-by-side comparison of different strategies for married clients regarding Estate Tax planning.  Several basic planning options are available.  The model includes beautiful flowcharts that have several layers of detail.
  • NEW Model: RMD, found under the 'Retirement' column.  This model will calculate the Required Minimum Distributions for a given year for an owner of a qualified plan during their lifetime.  Calculations can be performed from 2003-2021+.  The model has been developed with the §1.401(a)(9) changes that go into effect as of 01/01/2022.
  • IDIT Model: For excess income (income overpayment), an option has been added to place the excess income into a portfolio account, which can have a unique growth and income rate.  By default, the application assumes that the excess income is reinvested in the trust.
  • Update Regarding §1.401(a)(9) - Several models have been updated to reflect the slated changes to go into effect as of 01/01/2022.  These models are:
    • Pre 59½ (Retirement Column)
    • Life Expectancy (Present/Future Value Column)
    • Benefit (Financial Goals Column)

2021.01 (1/1/2021) 

  • Updated for the 2021 adjustments for states that have decoupled from the federal estate tax.  These include:
    • Maine: 2021 Exclusion of $5,900,000
    • New York: 2021 Exclusion of $5,930,000
    • Rhode Island: 2021 Credit of $70,490
    • District of Columbia: 2021 Exclusion of $4,000,000
  • Iowa inheritance tax: When the beneficiary is not Class 0 (spouse, grandparent, grandchild, child), the calculation is circular using the Federal Estate Tax as a deduction.  In these cases, a minor change was required to ensure the circular calculation.

2021.00  (11/15/2020)

Version Information 

  • NEW: The Social Security Section.  Complete With 6 New Models:  
    • Optimizer: This shows an optimal point for Social Security under different Retirement Age assumptions.
    • Spouse of a Qualified Worker:  Displays benefits for a spouse of a Qualified Worker and compares, if applicable, the benefit the spouse would earn based on their own work history. 
    • Family Max Benefit:  Shows the Maximum Family Benefit based on the year and the Qualified Worker's Primary Insurance Amount. This figure is used in both retirement and survivorship type of calculations. 
    • Survivor Benefits:  Calculates the survivor benefits of a spouse and/or qualified children of a deceased spouse. 
    • AIME: This model allows you to enter up to 45 years of income. With indexing applied, it captures the top 35 indexed income values and averages them to return the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings. 
    • Earnings Test:  This model will calculate the earnings test used to determine what portions of benefit will be withheld when the Qualified Worker continues to work during retirement and has not reached the Full Retirement Age.  
  • 2021 Income Tax Adjustments:  This update will impact and be visible on several screens: CRAT, CRUT, Pooled Income Fund, Farm/Residence, Gift Annuity, Individual Income Tax, Corporate Income Tax, CRATIRA, CRUTIRA, QP Buys Insurance.
  • 2021 §199A Adjustments:  This update will impact several screens: General, >1 Entity, Estate/Trust, SuperDed, C vs. S Corp, Individual vs. Employee, Farm.
  • 2021 Estate Tax Adjustments:  This update will be evident on several screens: Estate Tax, Prior Gifts, Bypass, Project, MarDed, Net Gift, Cash Need, Confiscate, Interrelated Estate Tax, Exclusion, §6166.  
  • 2021 IRMAA Adjustments:  Medicare Part B and D updated for 2021. This model is found under the Financial Planning side of the application. 
  • CRUTIRA:  IRA Names CRUT as Beneficiary. This model has been reworked to allow for more flexibility when modeling a CRUT. Additional inputs have been added to allow for different IRA growth rates, portfolio (where the distributions are placed), and the CRUT. The CRUT also allows for an income rate. You can also model how the schedule will payout based on the CRUT Type (Normal, NIMCRUT, NICRUT, or FlipCRUT).  If an Estate Tax is calculated, an IRD is calculated and applied to the Stretch schedule and the SECURE Act 10-year distribution. For the 10 Year distribution, you can now select whether the payout is a lump sum in year 10 or equal (with growth) payments from years one through ten.  Lastly, the CRUT's economic schedule was based on the life expectancy for table 2000CM, whereas the Stretch uses §1.401(a)(9).  You can now elect the CRUT distributions to use either table or enter an age to which they would stop.  The valuation is based on Table 2000CM, but the schedule can now be illustrated to extend (or stop short) the 2000CM Life expectancy.   
  • CRATIRA:  IRA Names CRAT as Beneficiary. This model has been reworked to allow for more flexibility when modeling a CRAT. Additional inputs have been added to allow for different IRA growth rates, portfolio (where the distributions are placed), and the CRAT. If an estate tax is calculated, an IRD is calculated and applied to the Stretch schedule and the SECURE Act 10-year distribution. For the 10 Year distribution, you can now select whether the payout is a lump sum in year 10 or equal (with growth) payments from years one through ten.  Lastly, the CRAT's economic schedule was based on the life expectancy for table 2000CM, whereas the Stretch uses §1.401(a)(9).  You can now elect the CRAT distributions to use either table or enter an age to which they would stop.  The valuation is based on Table 2000CM, but the schedule can now be illustrated to extend (or stop short) the 2000CM Life expectancy.   
  • Charity Type:  Cash - 60%. Models CRAT, CRUT, Pooled Fund, Farm/Residence, and Gift Annuity. Each of these models has been updated to allow for the option of a 60% Cash deduction. The other types remain unchanged (50,30,20%).  
  • Data File Filter:  When clicking on "Open," only files with the extension ".ecp" will be shown.
  • On-Screen Summary Tab Section:  If the report is long, it currently scrolls the tab section out of sight. The tab section will remain as a header. 

 

2020.10 

  • Added new model - Rolling GRAT. This model can be found under the Trusts category. The model shows the impact of having consecutive GRATs created with the annuity payouts funding the new GRAT and the remainder going to beneficiaries.
  • CRUTIRA: IRA Names CRUT as Beneficiary. The model was set up to always optimize the payout based on the highest payout that would pass the 10% test. An option has been added to allow the user to turn this off and enter a payout percentage between 5% and 50%. For the model's scope, it is still suggested to use the optimization to illustrate the most benefit going to the heirs. A minor tweak to the summary report was made to not show a Charitable Deduction from the CRUT if the Gross Taxable Estate is less than the Federal Exclusion for the year. In this situation, no estate tax would be calculated, and thus, removing the deduction leads to less confusion.
  • Special Use Valuation model: Updating to reflect the 2020 rates released in September 2020.
  • Data files: encryption. Before 2020.10, the files were not using 64-bit encryption.