Upstream University

Course curriculum

6 chapters, 27 questions. Read them in order, or jump to any question.

1. 1
   Chapter 15 questions

   The Basics

   • 1.What are the main benefits of an Upstream Trust?
   • 2.Who are the different parties in an Upstream Trust?
   • 3.Who is an Upstream Trust advantageous for? What criteria should someone meet?
   • 4.What assets can go into an Upstream Trust? What assets work best?
   • 5.Why is the trust set up in New Hampshire (or another trust-friendly state) instead of my home state?
2. 2
   Chapter 24 questions

   Control & Investments

   • 6.What control do I have? What stops my parents — or anyone — from doing something with the assets I don't want?
   • 7.Can I change the investments once assets are in the trust? Buy, sell, invest?
   • 8.What does it mean that I can "swap" assets?
   • 9.Can I add more assets after the initial funding?
3. 3
   Chapter 33 questions

   Distributions & the Trustee

   • 10.Who controls distributions? How is it decided who gets money, when, and for what?
   • 11.How does the trustee decide whether to approve a distribution? What rules do they follow — and why might they say no?
   • 12.Can the trust be unwound and the assets returned to me?
4. 4
   Chapter 49 questions

   The Parent Feature (What Makes It an Upstream Trust)

   • 13.What is a GPOA?
   • 14.Why are my parents given a GPOA in the Upstream Trust?
   • 15.Why are both of my parents part of the trust, instead of just one?
   • 16.What if my parents are divorced, remarry, or live in a community property state?
   • 17.Do my parents need to know about the trust or their role in it?
   • 18.Does this cost my parents or their other heirs anything?
   • 19.What happens, mechanically, when the first parent passes away?
   • 20.What if my parent's wealth grows, or they move to a state with an estate tax?
   • 21.Can my parents' creditors, spouses, or other children reach the trust assets?
5. 5
   Chapter 54 questions

   Taxes

   • 22.Who pays taxes on assets in the trust?
   • 23.Does contributing assets use up my lifetime gift exemption or annual gift limits?
   • 24.Are distributions from the trust taxable to me when I receive them?
   • 25.What happens to the trust when I pass away?
6. 6
   Chapter 62 questions

   Risks & Fine Print

   • 26.What are the main risks? What could go wrong?
   • 27.How long does the protection take to become effective?

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