THEHiddenTax
A Diagnostic Publication

Briefings

Plain-English reference pieces on the planning questions that come up most. Read them here, or download the PDF to keep.

  1. Estate planning

    Establishing an Estate Plan

    The foundational documents — will, living trust, powers of attorney — and what goes wrong without each.

  2. Reference

    2026 Annual Limits

    Retirement, IRA, HSA, Social Security, Medicare, and estate/gift thresholds for 2026 — verified against the source documents.

  3. Checklist

    Financial Planning Checklist

    Goals, risk, investments, retirement, estate, and giving — a full walkthrough with the 2026 limits attached.

  4. Estate planning

    The Grantor Retained Annuity Trust

    How a GRAT moves future appreciation to the next generation — the §7520 hurdle rate and the mechanics behind it.

  5. Interactive

    The Estate Map

    Interactive: pick your situation (single, married, blended, business owner) and see how your assets would flow — then download that map.

  6. Estate planning

    The Spousal Lifetime Access Trust

    Each spouse creates a trust for the other — using today's exemption while keeping indirect access. How it works.