Community Property Step-Up in Basis: The Double Step-Up Advisors Must Know
In community property states, both halves of jointly held assets get a full step-up in basis at death. Learn how this works and what it means for surviving spouses.
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All articles about Financial Advisor's Deceased Client Guide.
Compassion Fatigue in Financial Advisors: Recognizing and Managing Burnout After Client Deaths
Financial advisors absorb client grief regularly but rarely have support systems in place. Learn to recognize compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and moral injury.
Date-of-Death Valuation for Financial Advisors: FMV Calculations and Reporting
Date-of-death valuation determines the tax basis for inherited assets. Learn how to calculate fair market value, handle joint accounts, and use the alternate valuation date.
Deceased Client Protocol for Financial Advisors: A Step-by-Step Guide
When a financial advisory client dies, your firm needs a clear protocol. Here's the step-by-step checklist covering compliance, account freezes, and family communication.
Fiduciary Duty After a Client Dies: What Financial Advisors Owe the Estate
When a client dies, fiduciary duty shifts from the individual to the estate and its beneficiaries. Learn the obligations, common traps, and how to stay compliant.
Financial Advisor Condolence Message When a Client Dies: Scripts That Work
What should a financial advisor say when a client dies? Practical condolence scripts for phone calls, letters, and family meetings that balance empathy with compliance.
Hostile Heirs and Family Disputes: How Financial Advisors Stay Neutral
When heirs fight over a deceased client's accounts, the financial advisor must remain neutral. Learn boundary-setting scripts and escalation criteria for estate disputes.
How to Freeze a Deceased Client's Account: What Advisors Must Do Immediately
Freezing a deceased client's brokerage account is the first compliance step after notification. Learn what to cancel, block, and document within the first four hours.
Inherited IRA RMD Rules: What Beneficiaries Must Know in 2026
Inherited IRA RMD rules changed dramatically under the SECURE Act. Learn the 10-year rule, annual RMD requirements, EDB exceptions, and penalties for missed distributions.
Inherited IRA Distribution Rules Under the SECURE Act: The 10-Year Depletion Explained
The SECURE Act replaced stretch IRAs with a 10-year depletion rule for most inherited IRAs. Learn who qualifies for exceptions, the ghost rule, and spousal rollover options.
Regulation S-P and Deceased Client Privacy: What Advisors Can and Cannot Share
Regulation S-P protects a deceased client's financial data. Learn what advisors can share with family, when to wait for letters testamentary, and the 2025 amendment deadlines.
Step-Up in Basis After Death: What Financial Advisors Need to Calculate
The step-up in basis resets inherited assets to date-of-death fair market value. Learn how IRC Section 1014 works, common law vs community property rules, and inherited stock calculations.
Unauthorized Trading in a Deceased Client's Account: FINRA Violations and Real Cases
Trading in a deceased client's account without executor authority violates FINRA Rule 2010. Learn from real enforcement cases and how to protect your firm.