Ask Todd: Starting Your Estate Plan and Understanding Trust Income

Todd Lutsky of Cushing & Dolan answers listener questions about how to begin the estate planning process and what to expect when meeting with an attorney for the first time. He outlines key factors to consider—including age, asset size, family dynamics, and second marriages—and explains the difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts. Todd also breaks down the tax treatment of trusts, clarifying when a Social Security number is used versus when an EIN is required, and why the distinction matters.