You’ve worked hard to build something meaningful. Maybe it’s the family home, a rental property, or a carefully managed investment account meant to provide stability for your children after you're gone.
Now imagine your loved ones having to sell those assets—just to pay taxes.
That’s the fear driving concern over proposed changes to a key estate planning tool called the step-up in basis. If it’s eliminated, your family could face a major tax bill on inherited property, even if they never see a dime in their pocket.
At Cain, Cain & Janik, we help families prepare for these changes—not panic about them.
What Is Step-Up in Basis?
Here’s the short version: When someone passes away, their heirs inherit most property at its current market value—not the original purchase price. That means when they sell, they avoid huge capital gains taxes.
Let’s say your parents bought a home in 1980 for $100,000. Today, it’s worth $1 million. Under current rules, you inherit it at the $1 million value—no capital gains tax due if you sell right away.
But if the step-up in basis goes away, you’d inherit the original cost basis. That means a $900,000 gain—and a potentially massive tax bill.
Who’s At Risk?
This isn’t just about wealthy families or mansions on the beach. The proposed change would hit the middle class hardest—the families who have worked for decades to build equity in:
Modest homes that have appreciated over time
Rental properties or farmland
Small businesses
Stock portfolios passed down through generations
Many of these families don’t have the liquidity to pay a surprise six-figure tax bill. That’s why planning ahead matters more now than ever.
What Can You Do?
The truth is, no one knows exactly what Congress will do. But waiting to “see what happens” could limit your options.
That’s where we come in.
At Cain, Cain & Janik, we guide our clients through smart strategies that preserve wealth and reduce risk, including:
Creating and funding the right kind of trust to keep control and minimize tax exposure
Strategic lifetime gifting to reduce your taxable estate
Investing with taxes in mind, including Roth IRAs and insurance-based solutions
Charitable giving to reduce gains and support causes you care about
Using life insurance to provide tax-free liquidity for your heirs
Don’t Let Tax Policy Wipe Out Your Legacy
Estate planning isn’t about reacting to the headlines. It’s about being ready—with a clear plan that reflects your values, protects your family, and adapts as the law changes.
That’s why we created our Estate Planners for Life™ program. With this proactive approach, we work alongside you to keep your plan updated and effective—no matter what life (or lawmakers) throw your way.
Your family deserves more than a fire sale on your legacy. Let’s build a plan that protects what matters most.
👉 Request a Consultation or Register for a Workshop to take the first step toward tax-smart planning that works when it matters most.