Michelle Reagan Attalla

Washington State's new estate tax will take some getting used to as Washington residents begin to consider how to best optimize for themselves, and their heirs and beneficiaries. One of the startling facts is the direct tax cost of the estate tax, plus the requirement for non-spousal heirs to pay taxes on mandatory 10 years distributions from any retirement assets. Tax rates on IRA's at ordinary income rates plus the estate tax may mean tax rates well in excess of 50%! The time to plan is now , with your wealth advisor, estate attorney and/or CPA. And maybe even your real estate agent.

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AFP is pleased to announce a partnership with The Treasury Recruitment Company to offer Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) and Certified Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis Professional (FPAC) credits for select eligible episodes of the Treasury Career Corner Podcast. With over 375 episodes and 175,000+ downloads, the Treasury Career Corner podcast is one of the leading resources for global treasury professionals, featuring in-depth interviews with senior treasury leaders, technical advice and career-building insights. The podcast is hosted by Mike Richards, an active supporter of the CTP credential, who will be speaking at #AFP2025, taking place October 26-29, in Boston. Learn more about the partnership​: https://lnkd.in/e_y7E5Um

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We were proud to see our General Partner, Eric Ball, take the stage at the Insights from the C-Suite fireside forum alongside finance veterans from Nav Technologies, Inc., Smartsheet, and eBay. Hosted by John Christensen, this dynamic session explored how today’s treasury teams can elevate their strategic relevance—a topic Eric knows intimately from his experience as a former Fortune 500 CFO and now an active early-stage investor with Impact Venture Capital. 💬 Key takeaways from Eric and the panel: 🤝 Strategic alignment between treasury and finance is no longer optional—it's essential. 📊 Liquidity is leverage: Cash management must move from operational to strategic. 🌪️ Agility, foresight, and scenario planning are the new table stakes in a volatile macro environment. At Impact Venture Capital, we back startups building the financial tools of tomorrow—and we know that strong finance leadership is the foundation for scale. 👏 Kudos to our fellow panelists Grace Liu, Jennifer Ceran, and moderator John Christensen for bringing clarity to complexity.

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Bank Statement Loan Programs provide essential flexibility for self-employed professionals and business owners in California: qualify using 12–24 months of bank statements only, with no tax returns or W2 income verification required. Features include low down payments and high loan amounts for purchases, refinances, and second loans. This non-QM solution is particularly valuable in Southern California’s competitive markets. As CFO & Producing Sales Manager at Ivy Lending, Matthew Rostamian assists clients in leveraging these programs with precision and full compliance. If you’re a business owner evaluating mortgage options, I welcome the opportunity to discuss how this aligns with your objectives. Comment below or connect for a confidential review. #BankStatementLoans #SelfEmployedFinancing #NonQMLending #MortgageForEntrepreneurs #SoCalRealEstate #RealEstateFinance #IvyLending #MatthewRostamian #LosAngelesMortgage #OrangeCountyRealEstate #SecondLoans #CaliforniaMortgage #ProfessionalMortgage #BusinessOwnerLoans #MortgageInnovation

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Are we witnessing the gradual resurgence of the property and payroll factors in state income & franchise tax apportionment? The Smithfield Foods decision issued by the LA County Superior Court could present significant California income tax refund and savings opportunities for companies based outside California with all or most of their property and payroll outside the state that petition for alternative apportionment. Similarly, in shifting to a single receipts factor apportionment formula in 2025, Massachusetts rules also provide that the property and payroll factors may be used for apportionment when the Department of Revenue considers the sales factor to be “insignificant in producing income.” 

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A draconian increase in estate tax rates has brought increased importance to estate planning strategies for Washington state residents. Washington states estate tax rates have been increased markedly, with estates in excess of $3million subject to the tax increase shown in the graphic. The top tax bracket has increased from 20% to 35%! This makes planning strategies to reduce estate taxes more effective and important than ever. Here are some of the top strategies we use for our clients. Trust Planning – There are several trust planning strategies that reduce estate tax bills. One of the most important is the marital bypass trust. This strategy allows a married couple to double their estate tax exemption amount from $3 million to $6 million, passing on an extra $3 million tax free. There are also gifting trusts, charitable trusts, and personal residence trusts that all have estate tax slashing abilities in the right situation. Gifting – Unlimited gifts can be made estate tax free at the state level, making it a great method to pass assets without estate taxes, although at a certain amount they become subject to the federal gift tax,. Both direct gifting and gifting to trusts are powerful ways to reduce estate tax liabilities and make an earlier impact on the recipients. Giving – Charitable giving is exempt from estate taxes, and this increase in estate tax is another great reason to make charitable giving part of an estate plan. Moving – Finally many wealth individuals are finding moving to other more tax friendly states increasingly attractive. Most states do not have estate taxes, and we have seen numerous clients plan to take advantage of a late life move after this latest tax hike.

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California just released the updated 2025 instructions for the CA R&D Tax credit, and it is worth a quick check in. Starting in 2025, the state is ditching the Alternative Incremental Credit (AIC) and moving to the federal Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) model. The most important detail for founding teams is that this change is not automatic. If you have been using the AIC, you must proactively elect the ASC on your original tax return or you will not receive the credit. The new rates are generally 3%, or 1.3% for newer startups that do not have a three-year research history. Also, keep in mind that the $5 million annual limit on business credits remains in place through 2026. If you expect to exceed that cap, you should evaluate the irrevocable election to receive a refundable credit over five years to help your liquidity. Because all qualified research must be physically performed in California, make sure your team reviews these new rules before filing your 2025 taxes.

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Mesa West Capital is gearing up for the next iteration of its value-add real estate fund. The Los Angeles-based manager filed documentation with the SEC for Mesa West Real Estate Income Fund VI. 🔗 Read the whole story: https://okt.to/ANmFoZ #PERECredit #alternativelending

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Great perspective from Paul Doman (twitter handle @pauldoman1) on how #lenders can stay ahead with modern valuation tools—especially with UAD 3.6 on the horizon. #Valuation #LendingTech #Modernization #AMC #UAD36

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