10/11/2004

Energy Crisis?

Hello:

Oil is topping $53/bbl in interday trading. How does this compare to the energy crisis of the late 70's? According to Lincoln Anderson, adjusting the high price of $39.50/bbl for inflation would give us a current price of $92/bbl, so it could be interpreted that we are not at the crisis level, yet. Notably, houses are better insulated than they were thirty years ago, plus consumer sales in large SUV's are being replaced by greater sales in moderate SUV's and crossover vehicles with better gas mileage.

Are your donor's IRA beneficiaries up to date? Perhaps they should talk with their attorney and/or tax advisor about adding a charitable remainder trust as a beneficiary and/or adding a disclaimer into the will with a credit shelter trust as a contingent beneficiary for the required minimum distributions.

Terri G. Millson, CIMC President

Ray Dicius, GEPC LPL Branch Manager