Why People Do Not Have Estate Plans

A recent survey reveals something that we already know: most Americans do not have estate plans. However, the survey also reveals the reason why people do not get estate plans is because they feel they lack the financial know-how to even get started.

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Is the Family Business a Part of Your Estate Plan?

Family business contributes to over 70 percent of global productions, but owners of them don’t update their estate planning. It’s estimated that over 50 percent of family business owners didn’t update their estate planning documents for more than five years. Perfect and updated family planning ensures the smooth transition of a property from one generation […]

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MSU Alum Leaves Millions to School

Montana State University announced on Thursday that the late Bill Wurst, a 1959 alumnus in electrical engineering, has left $4 million to the MSU College of Engineering as a gift from his estate. The gift will be used as matching funds for the university’s planned Norm Asbjornson Innovation Center. Through a bequest from his estate, […]

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Can You Do Estate Planning for Your Farm?

Succession planning is one of the most important aspects of passing on a farm to future generations, but having a conversation about it is not always easy. Jolene Brown, an Iowa farmer and professional speaker, and Nelson Schoon, certified financial planner and owner of Financial Framing, weighed in on some of the do’s and don’ts […]

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Who Pays the Bills If I’m Not Around?

Who pays the bills in your house? If your house is like most, there is probably one person who handles most of the financial matters. Would you or your spouse be prepared to assume the role of managing the household finances if something happened to the other spouse? Too often, clients have gone through the […]

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Can I Survive Financially if I Live to be 100?

How long will you live? It’s a key question in retirement planning. If you’re healthy and your family tree has branches with staying power, you may figure that you have decades ahead. If your parents died early of natural causes, you may assume a shorter life. Yet research shows that behavior is more crucial than […]

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Estate Planning After your First Child Arrives

When young couples expect their first child, the to-do list never seems to end. From lining up in-home help to managing hectic daily schedules, the process can prove daunting. Then there’s financial planning. Financial advisors often urge parents-to-be to prepare by budgeting for the future. They might need well over $250,000 to fund a child’s […]

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