CNN: More Money For Your Kids

while the debate about the controversial "death tax" has settled down for the moment, the real boost to the wealthy under the new rules has gone largely unnoticed. In the same bill, the gift-tax exemption was raised from $1 million per person to $5 million, and from $2 million for a couple to $10 million -- same as the estate tax. Anything above that amount will also be taxed at the historically low rate of 35%. ...

Indeed, the amount of money you can now transfer tax-free to your heirs if you do so while you are alive -- as opposed to bequeathing it to them at death -- is staggering.