Recommended Software

Brentmark Retirement Plan Analyzer

This is probably the most powerful and featre-filled software available to help planners analyze proposed plan distribution strategies from QRPs, IRAs and Roth IRAs (comparing up to 4 scenarios simultaneously), including income tax, estate tax and spousal rollover aspects, and determine whether it is worthwhile to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, as well as making numerous other useful determinations regarding retirement plan distributions, such as pre-59½ distributions, impact of life insurance and annual gifting. While easy to use right out of the box, it would be best used by a sophisticated planner with training to understand the impact that changing assumptions has on outcome. $570 for the downloadable version, single user. I use Brentmark’s smaller scale version, Pension Distributions Planner ($249) for quick minimum distribution projections. Brentmark Software, Inc., 3505 Lake Lynda Drive #212, Orlando FL 32817-8327; 1-800-879-6665 or http://www.brentmark.com/pension.htm.

Numbercruncher

This is not primarily a retirement distributions analysis product, but it does pre-59½ distribution calculations (Chapter 9). The program is fast and easy to use, like all Numbercruncher features. The printout shows the assumptions used in making the calculations, which is extremely helpful. Numbercruncher also does 51 other estate planning calculations. Indispensable tool for estate planners. $429 (plus shipping unless you use download version). Annual updates $99. Leimberg & LeClair Inc., PO Box 1332, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, (610) 527-5216. Order at http://www.leimberg.com/

TigerTables

An excellent, easy-to-use and inexpensive source of estate planning computations such as QPRT, CRUT, GRAT, etc. Developed by estate planning expert and math/musical genius Larry Katzenstein, Esq., who says the IRS estate audit staff use this product. $299. For info and to order, visit http://www.tigertables.com (also find there the § 7520 rates updated monthly).