With Shares Tanking, Think About Gifting

Because stock prices are so low, donors can give much more before the gift tax will kick in. Thus allowing people who receive them a chance to generate wealth as the market recovers. Another consideration is the lifetime $1 million exclusion. Because so many stocks are at a low value, one could give much more without eating into as much of the exclusion. Stocks are the easiest form of property to give, as other forms such as real property require extra steps to effectuate the transfer.

The Wall Street Journal has more.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) and Patrick S. Sylvester (Attorney & Counselor at Law, Sylvester Law Firm, PC) for bringing this review to my attention.