CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business — ViewPlan Advanced

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From the June/July 2007 Review of Estate Planning Systems

CCH offers one of the broadest collections of accounting, tax and engagement programs for accountants, most notably the ProSystem fx line, as well as ViewPlan and ViewPlan Advanced, which provide powerful estate planning capabilities with advanced scenario building and client presentation functions. ViewPlan Advanced offers a more comprehensive feature set that simplifies the often complex tasks associated with generation skipping and other wealth transfer options. A single-user license of ViewPlan Advanced costs $1,659 with renewals available for $919 per year. Multi-user and network licenses are also available.

Ease of Use/Basic Functionality -- 4.5 Stars
ViewPlan opens to a standard Windows interface with a panel on the left called the Estate Bar, which offers large icons for accessing the primary components of the system, including Clients, Estate Details, Plans, Comparisons and Presentations. Each of these functions is also easily available from a pulldown menu at the top of the screen, along with selections for Tools, Quick Calculators and other options. The top of the screen also contains a pulldown selection list for clients, with another selection list for selecting a plan if there is more than one in the system for that client. These toolbars can be easily removed from the desktop at the user’s preference. The system’s client selection screen provides a sortable list, while also acting as the initial client data-entry screen, with fields for basic information.

When initially setting up the system or when adding new clients, the system’s Preferences tabs allow the professional to choose tax rates and exemption amounts for specific years or for various taxes, including the gift tax, estate tax and GST. ViewPlan offers two primary methods of data entry: Detailed View and Quick Plan View. Detailed View allows more data entry to essentially create a full plan, while the Quick Plan View option enables entry of estate details in a summary format for quick estimates. The program also offers several “quick calculators” that provide rapid scenario testing with less data entry. These include the Quick Estate Tax Calculator, the Quick Generation Skipping Tax Calculator and the Quick Gift Tax Calculator. All data-entry screens throughout the system automatically perform calculations as data is entered. The system can create virtually any number of plans for each client, with up to three viewable side-by-side on a comparison report. The system integrates with CCH’s research products, including the Tax Research Network (subscription required), and provides links to source research data.

Calculations -- 5 Stars
After client data has been entered, the user can create or view several types of estate plans and various reports based on the plan type and information entered. Using the Plans Manager function, the user selects the specific tax assumptions to be used for the plan and has the ability to customize the plan for inclusion of gifts or trusts, or to change the GST or other details. The plan editing window provides tabs for the various data-entry areas.

ViewPlan supports all traditional estate planning and advanced transfer techniques, including CRAT, CRUT, CLAT, CLUT, PIF, GRAT, GRUT, GRIT, QPRT, SCIN, private annuities, installment sales and charitable gift annuities. ViewPlan also helps in demonstrating the benefits of irrevocable life insurance trusts and family limited partnerships. The system’s State Law Builder enables the adjustment of state tax rates, and the AFR editor makes it easy to maintain and update the applicable federal rates. A Calculation Log acts as an audit trail, showing rate changes and input errors, while showing how the system calculated specific results. ViewPlan can manage individual accounts as well as investments including stocks, annuities, mutual funds and closed-end funds.

Client Presentation Tools
As the name ViewPlan would suggest, the system includes excellent presentation functions, including the ability to provide dynamic visual displays to clients that show multiple plans side-by-side, enabling the professional to easily demonstrate the benefits of particular treatments. The comparison reports are easily accessible using the Comparisons button on the Estate Bar, showing the three standard estate plans along with additional custom plans, with automated editable text descriptions. The program’s report functions provide multiple options, including one-click flowchart creation, graphs, access to full calculations, details, scenario explanations, bookmark functions, and the ability to add custom notes onto reports. The system can export to PDF, Word, ProSystem fx, Vista, Beneview and Factuary formats and can import from ProSystem fx, Vista, Beneview and Factuary.