Free Software for Trusts & Estates Professionals
On January 10, 2008, the website of Trusts & Estates magazine offered a list of "Free Software for Trusts & Estates Professionals". That list is like a toolbox filled with calculators.
T&E, as a print publication available since 1904, is a well-known subscription resource for professionals. Now, its website references, by links, other useful resources that are public and free.
T&E calls its website a "Town Center" for professionals, and promises: "On the website, we offer a variety of additional information sources."Trusts & Estates is the town center where experts who serve the ultra-wealthy's planning needs gather to gain insight into their specialties and to learn about related professions.
For example, on its web page entitled "Estate Planning", T&E's Town Center lists online resources, such as blogs. A link to the PA EE&F Law Blog is included among thirteen recommended blog sites.
This community includes attorneys, fiduciaries, accountants, investment advisors, charitable giving specialists, family office executives, insurance agents and valuation experts. * * *
Also, it offers "Don Kelley's Tech Review" (Jan., 2007 - present), which is described as a "monthly Technology Review by Donald H. Kelley -- a respected connoisseur of software and Internet resources wealth management advisors use to further their practices."
For example, I find Don's most recent column filled with relevant information, along with a multitude of web links to resources. See: "Googling for Trusts and Estates Materials on the Web -- Quick, easy and free searching for T&E practice resources on the Internet" (Dec., 2007).
On this blog, I have referenced other outlets for Don Kelley's work in trust & estate technology. See PA EE&F Law Blog postings: "ACTEC Offers T&E "Tool Box" Online" (01/03/08); "Fiduciary Administration Software" (12/14/07); "Estate Planning & Drafting Software" (12/11/07); and "ACTEC Notes Blogs on T&E and Taxes" (07/23/07).
Under each of the Town Center's ten major topic headings are references to articles that appeared in the monthly print issues of T&E magazine. However, unless you are a subscriber to that publication, only the identifying information and the initial paragraphs are available to read.
But the listing of free calculators -- that's a different story!
Twenty-one websites are described that offer calculators for a variety of purposes, which I generically characterize as follows:
- estate tax estimation
- social security benefits
- personal financial planning
- charitable donations
- savings bond valuation
- loan, mortgage, & interest payments
- savings projections for college, retirement, or obligations
- certain income tax calculations
- IRA vehicle conversions & comparisons
- refinancing & amortization costs
- charitable gift annuities, CLTs, CRATs and CRUTs
On January 10th, Don Kelley further posted on the T&E Town Center a list of nineteen "Commercially Available Software Applications for Trusts & Estates Professionals". One among those listed could be a good tool for your job.
