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Law Firm Attends National Estate Planning Conference
December 13, 2007
Maryland Estate Planning Attorneys, Colleen Sinclair Prosser and Christa Howell
attended an educational conference in San Diego, CA in October sponsored by the
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. |
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American Academy Recommended by Nationally Syndicated Talk Show Host
December 6, 2007
The John Tesh Radio Show recommended the Academy as a resource for finding an estate planning attorney.
The segment focusing on money and finance originally aired in September 2007 and was repeated in December
2007. Mr. Tesh recommended that listeners go to the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys website
to find a qualified estate planning attorney in their area. The Academy website is also recommended on
his site.
The John Tesh Radio Show airs on 260 stations across the United States
and Canada with an audience of over 8 million listeners. John Tesh is known as a popular television host,
singer and syndicated talk show host.
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Continuing Education Class
scheduled for December 11th
"Tips, Tricks and Traps of the Final 1040, 1041 and 706 Tax Returns"
December 1, 2007
From an estate administration perspective, Attorney Christa Howell will explore tips, tricks, and traps
in filing a decedent's final 1040; preparing 1041's for the estate of the decedent or a trust; and
preparing the 706 estate tax return. As part of the discussion, she will briefly discuss trust funding
formulae, 645 tax elections and the Tax on Prior Transfers Credit. Course is approved for 2 credits for
Life/Health Insurance, Certified Financial Planners and Certified Public Accountants.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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Attorneys Colleen Sinclair Prosser
and Christa Howell to attend Academy Summit
October 20, 2007
Attorneys Colleen Sinclair Prosser and Christa Howell will attend the American Academy of Estate
Planning Attorneys Fall Summit in San Diego, CA on October 18th through the 21st. Topics slated
for the event: Trust provisions for divorce protection, disability, children and grandchildren
protection, and asset/creditor protection; Family Wealth Asset Trust (FET), Family Wealth Sentry
Trust (FST); Family Preservation Trust (FRPT); Estate Planning for IRAs and Pension Plans; and
alternatives to planning for minor children and grandchildren.
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Ronald Sinclair, Ed Slott and Colleen Sinclair Prosser at IRA workshop on
October 27th at BWI Marriott Hotel.
October 15, 2007
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SinclairProsser Attorneys to Attend
Important IRA Workshop
September 27, 2007
Attorneys, R. Ronald Sinclair, Colleen Sinclair Prosser, Nicole Livingston and Christa Howell will be
attending a workshop on October 27th presented by Ed Slott, declared "America's IRA Expert" by Mutual
Funds Magazine and "The Best" source for IRA advice by The Wall Street Journal. The workshop Planning
for Successful IRA Distribution is sponsored by Mike Steranka of Retirement Planning Strategies in
Crofton, MD and presents important strategies to keep retirement assets in the family for generations,
avoid the 50% tax on failed distributions after age 70 and much more.
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Attorneys Colleen Sinclair Prosser
and Christa Howell to attend Academy Summit
September 27, 2007
Attorneys Colleen Sinclair Prosser and Christa Howell will attend the American Academy of Estate
Planning Attorneys Fall Summit in San Diego, CA on October 18th through the 21st. Topics slated
for the event: Trust provisions for divorce protection, disability, children and grandchildren
protection, and asset/creditor protection; Family Wealth Asset Trust (FET), Family Wealth Sentry
Trust (FST); Family Preservation Trust (FRPT); Estate Planning for IRAs and Pension Plans; and
alternatives to planning for minor children and grandchildren.
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Money Magazine's September Issue Recommends
the AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEYS
September 5, 2007
Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having
left undone.
--Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso is highlighted in the September 2007 issue of Money
Magazine. Though he is best known for his unique artistic talents,
he was also known to have been willing to die without an estate
plan-leaving a huge mess for his heirs. This same article mentions
the importance of finding the type of attorney you can trust to
assist you with planning for your family's legacy. The recommendation
of Money Magazine is that you search for a member of the American
Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. The American Academy is
an exclusive membership organization for law firms dedicated to
estate planning. We are proud of our Academy membership since
1995. Our law firm is one of only 2 law firms in Maryland accepted
into the membership of this organization. For more information
about why our membership is so important to your family, click
here.
MORE INFO |
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SinclairProsser Law, LLC Sponsors Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County
SinclairProsser Law, LLC will be one of the sponsors for "Launching
the Vision" of Philanthropy in Anne Arundel County on Friday,
August 24th. Come Celebrate with the Community Foundation of Anne
Arundel County (formerly Community Foundation of the Chesapeake)
aboard the good ship Catherine Marie. Enjoy live jazz, delicious
dinner, plentiful drinks and a chance to win our "Philanthropist
for a Night" raffle. Tickets are $100 and only 200 will be sold.
Sponsorships are available. Please contact Bess Freedlander at
bess@cfaac.org or 410-280-
1102.
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Attorney Colleen Sinclair Prosser Comprehensively Defines the Concerns and
Fundamentals of Planning for IRA Distribution Estate Planning
Attorney Colleen Sinclair Prosser comprehensively defines the concerns
and fundamentals of planning for IRA Distribution Estate Planning in our
upcoming Continuing Education Class on "IRA Distribution Estate
Planning" on June 13, 2007. Income
tax deferral is what makes IRA and Qualified Retirement Plan (QRP) accounts
special. When it comes to passing them to heirs, the Beneficiary Designation
is everything. But account owner mistakes and the rules made by plan Custodians
can cost heirs a fortune after the owner dies.
Planning for the IRA/QRP account as if it were an estate within the estate
allows heirs to have maximum IRA stretch-out. By viewing IRA/QRP accounts
through this different kind of lens, you can help clients achieve planning
results they may never have imagined.
Colleen Sinclair Prosser is an approved IRA distribution attorney under
the guidance of Ed Slott, a nationally recognized IRA distribution expert.
Ms. Prossers law practice is dedicated to providing high quality estate
planning services in Anne Arundel, Prince Georges and surrounding counties
in Maryland.
This course qualifies for 2 CE credits for
Maryland Life/Health, Certified Financial Planners and Certified Public
Accountants.
REGISTER NOW! |
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Attorneys Scheduled to Attend Estate
Planning Summit
Attorneys Colleen Sinclair Prosser, Nicole Livingston and Christa Howell
will be attending the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Spring
Summit in St. Louis the end of April. Special Needs Planning, Trust Administration
and Asset Protection are a few of the topics that will be discussed at
the Summit. AAEPA requires its members complete 32 hours of continuing
education annually.
ABOUT THE AAEPA |
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Attorney Colleen Sinclair Prosser Speaks
About the Importance of Planning for Special Needs
Colleen Sinclair Prosser recently presented Planning for Special Needs
to the Childrens Development Clinic at Prince Georges Community College.
She was also invited by MetLife Financial Services to present the seminar
at the Charles County Board of Education where parents of children with
special needs were encouraged to attend. |
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Attorney Nicole Livingston Scheduled
to Speak in Mitcheville
Nicole Livingston is scheduled to talk at Collington Episcopal Life Care
Community in Mitchellville later this month on the importance of keeping
health care directives and estate plans up to date. |
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Attorneys
Colleen Sinclair Prosser and Nicole Livingston Completes Extensive IRA
Training
Maryland Estate Planning Attorneys Colleen Sinclair Prosser and Nicole
Livingston, recently completed in-depth training on planning with IRAs
at an educational conference in Las Vegas. The instructor is the nationally
known IRA expert, Ed Slott. Mr. Slott is the author of the widely acclaimed
book, The Retirement Savings Bomband How to Defuse It. He has lectured
extensively for years to financial professionals across the country on
the complex IRA rules and how to properly plan to preserve and then transfer
IRAs to family members.
READ MORE |
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Upcoming
Continuing Educational Class
Continuing Education Class scheduled for March 7th qualifies
for 2 CE credits for Maryland Life/Health, Certified Financial Planners
and Certified Public Accountants.
Attorney Nicole Livingston comprehensively defines the concerns and fundamentals
of planning for special needs in our upcoming Continuing Education Class
on Life and Estate Planning for Special Needs.
Nearly one in ten families is affected by disabilities in the United States.
Many don’t even know they have planning options. Even worse, failing
to plan can jeopardize the Special Needs Childs’s eligibility for
public and private assistance programs. It is crucial that they create
financial and estate plans.
REGISTER NOW! |
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Upcoming Continuing Education
Seminar
Our quarterly Continuing
Education presentation to financial professionals will be held on December
6, 2006 at Crofton Country Club at 9:00 am to 11:30 a.m.
Attorney Colleen Sinclair Prosser will present
a 2 credit continuing education seminar sponsored by The American Academy
of Estate Planning Attorneys on Family Business Succession Planning.
In the first half of the course Ms. Prosser will present Choice
of Entity and discuss the types of business entities available
and factors which may cause a planner to choose one type of entity over
another. The second half of the presentation will be spent on transfer
strategies to consider when Transferring the Family Business.
The course is pending approval of 2 Continuing Education credits for Financial
Planners, CPAs and Maryland Life/Health Insurance agents. A buffet breakfast
will be served. Register online
here or Call Tamiko at 410-573-4818 or 301-970-8080.
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Law Firm Attends National Estate Planning Conference
The SinclairProsser Law Firm recently
attended the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorney’s national
estate planning conference in San Diego, California. The attorneys participated
in valuable educational sessions and received the latest updates on IRA
Planning, Planned Giving and Medicaid Planning. |
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On October 6, 2006 Colleen Sinclair
Prosser celebrated her 10 year anniversary with SinclairProsser Law, LLC.
Colleen and her father R. Ronald Sinclair are prime examples of a Business
Succession Plan properly executed. Ms. Prosser is now the owner and managing
partner of the firm and has expanded the firm with the addition of Attorney
Nicole Livingston to head up the Elder Law section, and Christa Howell
who is working to manage the Estate Administration department when Mr.
Sinclair retires later this year. The firm also boasts a staff of 6 full
time and 4 part time paralegals. |
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2 Credit Continuing Education Class on Family Business
Succession Planning will be presented on September 6th by Attorney
Colleen Sinclair Prosser from 9 am to 11:30 am at the Crofton Country
Club. Ms. Prosser will provide information to help you assist your clients
to create a plan that allows for the transfer of control to family members,
partners, employees, or others while providing an adequate income stream
during retirement for the retiree and his or her heirs. Buy-Sell Agreements
will also be discussed. A second continuing education class covering
Choice of Entity and Transferring the Family Business is to be held on
December 6th for an additional 2 credits. Registration is
required. Call Tamiko at 800-366-4615 or register
online here. |
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The staff of SinclairProsser Law enjoyed an evening of food
and entertainment aboard the Community Foundation of the Chesapeake's
Cruise for the Community on Friday, August 18 out of the harbor of Annapolis.
SinclairProsser Law, LLC was one of the many community sponsors of the
cruise. The Community Foundation of the Chesapeake helps individuals,
families, businesses and organizations meet their goals for charitable
giving. For more information visit communityfoundationchesapeake.com.
The Maryland Trust for Retarded Citizens. |
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Our quarterly Continuing Education class to financial professionals was
held on June 14, 2006 at the Crofton Country Club. The course was approved
for 2 continuing education credits for Maryland Life/Health Insurance Agents,
Financial Planners and CPAs. There were 39 in attendance. Attorney Nicole
Livingston covered the recent changes in Medicaid Law and introduced the
Income Only Income Trust.
The next scheduled Continuing Education class will be on Business Succession
Planning. It will be presented in two parts - the first part will be held
on September 6 and the second part will be held on December 6. More details
in August. |
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Changes in Maryland Estate Tax
The Maryland House and Senate passed legislation to exempt Maryland estates
from estate taxes for amounts under $1,000,000.00. Currently when an estate
exceeds $1,000,000.00 the entire $1,000,000.00 is taxed. The bill provides
that only the excess above $1,000,000.00 will be taxed. The Legislature
also included a provision for a state Marital Trust (QTIP). The Governor
is expected to sign the bills. We will keep you informed as the laws progress
through the political process. |
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Attorneys Colleen Sinclair Prosser and Nicole Livingston attended the
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Spring Summit in Houston,
TX on May 4th through 8th. Continuing education abounded in the drafting
and administering of the Special Needs Trust, as well as executing the
Final 706 tax filing. Of course, the new changes in Medicaid law had everyone
buzzing. A night at the rodeo was a welcome respite and enjoyed by all.
The Fall Summit will be held in October in beautiful Coronado, CA.
Colleen Sinclair Prosser will present a 2 credit Continuing Education
course on Estate Planning to CPAs at Naden Lean in Timonium on June 5th.
If you have Maryland Life/Health Insurance agents, Certified Financial
Planners or Certified Public Accountants in need of continuing education
credits, call Cyndi @ 410-573-4818 to learn of available topics and to
schedule a class.
Special attention will be given to the recent Deficit Reduction Act and
the impact on Medicaid Planning by Nicole Livingston in a 2 credit Continuing
Education Course Wednesday, June 14th at Crofton Country Club. Registration
is required. Call Tamiko at 1-800-366-4615 or register online
here.
Nicole Livingston will be attending the Maryland State Bar Annual Meeting
in Ocean City, MD June 14 – 18th.
Colleen Sinclair Prosser will present Estate Planning: What
Every Woman Needs to Know at SunTrust Bank’s Women’s
Business Initiative luncheon in May. Click
here to find out how you can set up a speaker engagement for your
business or organization.
SinclairProsser Law will host their Client Appreciation Seminars
on May 16th and May 18th. These seminars are designed to update and refresh
our clients with information relevant to their estate planning endeavors.
Registration is required or call Tamiko at
1-800-366-4615.
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Terri Shiavo 1st Anniversary
Terri Schiavo, one year later: Only 29% of Americans have a living
will.
March 31, 2006 marks the one year anniversary of Terri Schiavo’s
death. More than any other story, Ms. Schiavo’s situation brought
the need for living wills and other advance directives to the forefront
of everyone’s attention. In the past year, an unprecedented number
of people have explored their personal health care desires and made plans
for their end-of-life wishes.
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Are cuts to the state's estate tax coming?
Annapolis attorney Colleen Sinclair Prosser handles
scores of estates every year, and more than half of them involve clients
grumbling over Maryland's death tax. "What I say to people is: 'In
order to avoid the tax, you have to be (worth) under $1 million. Are you
really comfortable giving away your assets until you're under $1 million?'"
she said. "Most people aren't."
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY
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Our quarterly “Lunch and Learn” to financial
professionals was held on March 8, 2006 at Christopher’s
Restaurant in Crofton. Attorney Nicole Livingston presented a continuing
education seminar on Living Trusts with emphasis on incapacity
planning. Special attention was given to the financial planner’s role
when a client is incapacitated. The course was approved for 2 continuing
education credits for Maryland Life/Health Insurance Agents, Financial Planners
and CPAs. Anyone interested in upcoming
continuing education classes should contact info@sinclairprosserlaw.com
and ask to be put on the monthly educational alert. |
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Bethesda, MD – March 8, 2006 - Attorney Colleen Sinclair Prosser
was invited by a group of leading financial consultants to participate in
a round table discussion of the latest changes in the Medicaid laws (Deficit
Reduction Act). Much of the discussion focused on the ever growing
need to pre-plan for nursing home costs and the use of the “Income
Only” trust. For more information of the “Deficit Reduction
Act”, click
here. |
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March 14, 2006 – Attorney Nicole Livingston attended the Anne Arundel
County Senior Provider’s Group in Severna Park, MD. Discussion
was the 55+ population in AA County (currently 110,062 and expected to continue
to rise significantly.) To serve the needs of this growing community, Anne
Arundel Department of Aging and Disabilities has formed partnerships
with organizations that will provide caregiver assistance, transportation,
or emergency alert devices, as well as an agreement with cab companies to
provide reduced fares for transportation to dialysis appointments on Saturdays.
They can assist a young mother who has a child with a disability by directing
her to services in the community or they can assist a daughter who needs
caregivers for her father-in-law who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
They also provide one-on-one assistance for people needing help applying
for Medicare Part D and will provide transportation. Reminder: May 15th
is the deadline to sign up for Medicare Part D program. To contact the Department
of Aging call 410-222-4464 or visit www.aacounty.org/Aging |
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October 2005 - Colleen Sinclair Prosser Attends
Special Event For The Maryland Trust For Retarded Citizens
Attorney, Colleen Sinclair Prosser attended Transition Night at Central Special
School in Edgewater, MD on Wednesday, October 26th as a representative of the
Maryland Trust for Retarded Citizens (MTRC). Transition Night is an evening
that brings together the adult service organizations, state agencies, and support
groups that provide service to adults with disabilities in Anne Arundel County.
The purpose is to help high school graduates with special needs transition into
the working community. Ms. Prosser sits on the Board of Trustees for MTRC and
devotes many hours to helping families plan for the future of their special
needs loved ones. For more information
on the Maryland Trust for Retarded Citizens please click here.
September 2004 - New
Attorney Joins Our Team!
 We
are pleased to welcome distinguished attorney, Nicole Livingston, to our experienced
team. Ms. Livingston will oversee our Elder Law and Medicaid practice. Prior
to becoming an attorney, Ms. Livingston practiced speech-language pathology
for seven years, primarily in nursing homes in Anne Arundel County. She worked
with and treated patients with strokes, dementia and swallowing problems. Her
medical background compliments her Elder Law practice area. She will assist
clients with all aspects of Elder Law addressing the legal needs of seniors
and family members of seniors including Medicaid planning.
Click here to read more about Ms. Livingston
March 2004 - SinclairProsser
Law, LLC Release New Estate and Financial Planning Book
Total Wealth Management: The Definitive Guide to Estate
and Financial Planning
Attorneys, Ronald Sinclair & Colleen Prosser as well as Financial Planner,
Jane Sinclair --- foremost authorities on the topic of Estate Planning and Asset
Protection have co-authored a book with well-known author Gordon K. Williamson.
SinclairProsser Law, LLC offers their best advice for those needing to consider
how your financial planning works with or against your estate planning. The
attorneys argue that consumers can no longer leave their planning in someone
else's hands, they need to actively participate in their own financial security.
Without planning now, there is little security tomorrow.
READ MORE
March 26, 2003 - For Immediate Release
Estate planning attorney, Colleen Sinclair Prosser of SinclairProsser, Attorneys
at Law and a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, is
featured in April’s issue of MORE magazine in a special report written
my Sarah Mahoney entitled “Family Feud.” The article deals with
the all-too-common disputes that take place when a loved one passes away and
recommends “7 Steps to Sanity” in keeping peace in the family.
Ms. Prosser is committed to educating the public about estate planning issues
and gives free public seminars throughout Anne Arundel, Prince George’s
and Queen Anne’s County.
LOCAL ATTORNEY APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEYS
Annapolis-Millersville-Bowie - the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys
is pleased to announce that Colleen Sinclair Prosser, Attorney at Law has been
appointed to the Academy's Board of Governors.
In her new capacity, Ms. Prosser will serve as an advisor and help guide the
direction of the national member organization. She joins eight other attorneys
from around the country on the prestigious Board, which is the most important
advisory panel to the senior management team at the Academy. Board members participate
in research and development and provide feedback on all new Academy products
and services.
A member of the Academy since 1996, Ms. Prosser's practice is dedicated to
providing high quality estate planning services in Anne Arundel, Prince George's
and surrounding counties. She regularly presents free public seminars on estate
planning and asset protection strategies. Ms. Prosser is a principal in the
law firm, SinclairProsser, Attorneys at Law. She is a member of both the Maryland
and District of Columbia Bars and the Elder Law Section, and Estate and Trusts
Sections of the Maryland Bar. She also serves on the board of trustees of the
Maryland Trust for Retarded Citizens.
"The Academy recognizes Colleen Sinclair Prosser's outstanding professionalism
and dedication to the field of estate planning," explains Robert Armstrong,
founder of the Academy. "As a member of the Board of Governors, she will
be able to share her knowledge and expertise with the members of the Academy
to improve the practice of estate planning across the nation."
The Academy is a member organization serving the needs of legal professionals
concentrating on estate planning. Through the Academy's comprehensive training
and educational programs on state-of-the-art estate planning law and techniques,
it fosters excellence in estate planning among its members and helps them deliver
the highest possible service to their clients.
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