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Core Insights

The 2026 Unified Credit: Maximizing the $15 Million Exemption The estate planning landscape has fundamentally changed with the enactment of the OBBBA. As of January 1, 2026, the federal exemption for estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes has been set at $15 million per individual and $30 million per married couple. This replaces the previous $13.61 million limit and removes the threat of an automatic return to pre-2018 levels. However, because the tax code remains subject to Congressional amendment, high-net-worth families should continue to leverage these historically high thresholds to "freeze" asset values through expert appraisal and strategic gifting.

COREVALUATION​

Discounts for Lack of Marketability (DLOM) A Discount for Lack of Marketability (DLOM) accounts for the valuation disparity between publicly traded securities and privately held interests. While investors in public markets can liquidate their holdings almost instantaneously, owners of private shares face a significantly more restricted path to sale. Because there is no established exchange for private stock, a discount is applied to reflect the time, cost, and risk associated with finding a buyer. At Core Valuation, we use rigorous empirical data to quantify these discounts, ensuring a defensible and accurate fair market value for your private interests.

Timing and access is everything

Valuation Issues

What Is Your Minority Stake Really Worth? A common concern for business owners is the valuation of "minority interests"—shares in a private company that don't come with voting control. Because you cannot independently decide to sell the company or pay out dividends, the IRS recognizes that these shares are worth less than a proportional "math-only" calculation would suggest. We help you navigate this complexity by applying appropriate discounts that reflect your lack of control, ultimately protecting your estate from over-valuation and unnecessary tax exposure.

Losing Control

Gifting opportunities in 2026