1. What is Estate Planning? And… Top Ten Reasons To Do Estate Planning (none of them are about Estate Taxes)

2. What Is Estate Planning? Taxes/ Probate Enhance Wealth Preserve Values & Wealth Protect Your Family & Loved Ones (Pets?) Plan for & Protect Yourself

3. In Other Words… Giving What You Want To Whom You Want When You Want The Way You Want Taxes/ Probate Enhance Wealth Preserve Values & Wealth Protect Your Family & Loved Ones (Pets?) Plan for & Protect Yourself

4. So, What About the Estate Tax? 1797-1801- Navy ‘stamp’ 1862-1870- Civil War 5% 1898-1902- Spanish-American War 15% 1916- World War 1 10-25% 1934- Roosevelt- 60%, 1935- 70% ~~Various Adjustments- esp. 2001 Taxes/ Probate Enhance Wealth Preserve Values & Wealth Protect Your Family & Loved Ones (Pets?) Plan for & Protect Yourself

5. The 2001 Estate Tax Plan 2005 $1.5 M 47% 2006 $ 2 M 46% 2007 $ 2 M 45% 2008 $ 2 M 45% 2009 $3.5 M 45% 2010 Repealed 35% (Gift tax) Step Up Gone -Recordkeeping Nightmare 2011 Approx. 1M 55%