Personal finance

* The estate and gift tax exemption is $5.49 million per individual.

* Top federal tax on gifts and estates is 40 percent.

* Lawyers won't bet on the outright repeal of the estate tax.

By the Yourefolio Staff

Whether you are remarrying after a divorce or the death of a spouse, it is important to enter your new marriage with smart financial planning. There are many things to consider, including how you will handle your current financial needs and future financial wishes.

Assets and Liabilities

Together you said “I do.” The hopes and dreams to build a future and a family together are alive. But now what? One of the hardest things couples do when joining their lives together is merging their finances. How do you combine financial bliss with marital bliss? Good communication is a fundamental skill in the process. The good news is, most of the time, marriage leads to more wealth accumulation. Unfortunately, financial stress is a leading cause of divorce.