Your client, age 65, has a gross estate valued at $300,000. His wife, age 58, has a gross estate valued at $150,000 and is financially competent.

His objectives are to:

• leave all property to his wife in as simple a manner as possible;
• allow his wife to determine the ultimate beneficiaries of all his property; and
• make maximum use of the unlimited marital deduction.

Which one of the following transfers is most appropriate for achieving the client's objectives?

A) Life income to his wife from a trust funded with the exemption equivalent amount, with the remainder to his designated beneficiaries

B) An estate trust with his wife as beneficiary

C) A combination qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) trust and family bypass trust with his wife as income beneficiary

D) An outright bequest of the entire estate to his wife