Every month, the Internal Revenue Service issues its “Applicable Federal Rates” for the following month. These rates are a key component in many estate-planning strategies. As a general rule, lower rates provide for significant opportunities to shift wealth to junior generations. The Applicable Federal Rates have been approaching historic lows recently. The rate for a long-term loan (more than nine years to maturity) is a mere 1.86% for October!

What do these low interest rates mean for you? It means that now may be the time to…