That’s one of those things that seems too dumb to possibly be true, but it looks like it is? An estate can sell stocks in probate with cost basis set to date of death, not purchase? Sort of makes sense, the heirs would get the stepped-up basis, the stocks, and the debt if the executor didn’t net them out in probate.

I guess it’s a bet you’ll be dead before the interest outweighs the potential tax, or volatility spikes? Betting on your own death seems to macabre, and too tempting too the fates.