As we build wealth, we naturally desire to pass that financial stability to our offspring. With the grandkids, especially, we often share a special bond that makes us want to provide well for their future. However, that bond can actually turn into a weakness if proper precautions aren’t set in place. If you’re planning to […]
Read More »5 Things Every New Mother Needs to Know About Wills
As a new mother, you naturally want to ensure your new baby’s future in every way. For many new mothers, infancy is a time for celebrating new life, and making a will is the last thing on their minds. For others, the process of bringing new life into the world sparks intense feelings of wanting […]
Read More »Do Not Forget Your Frequent Flier Miles
Most people who travel a lot have accumulated many un-redeemed frequent flier miles or hotel reward points. What many do not know is that it is a good idea to state who should assume ownership of these loyalty reward points in an estate plan.
Read More »Business and Avoiding Probate Problems
Small and family business owners have heard many nightmares about similar businesses that have had problems with probate. Many of the stories are true. However, with careful planning most of the problems associated with probate can be avoided.
Read More »Do Not Wait to Say Your Last Words
In a very real sense your estate plan is your last words. After you pass away, it will be the last thing that people hear from you. However, most Americans put off making an estate plan as long as they can if they ever create one at all.
Read More »Plan Ahead!!
AARP says to head off bickering over your personal possessions, consider supplementing your will with a letter of instruction, an informal document that you can draft yourself. Where there’s a will, there’s a way—and sometimes an ugly family feud. Families are consumed with grief when a loved one dies, but unfortunately certain legal and organizational […]
Read More »Estate Planning to Prevent Identity Theft
By now most people are aware of the necessity to exercise diligence to prevent identity theft. People know to check their credit statements and how to look out for irregularities. However, when you pass away, you can no longer do that. Identity thieves are now exploiting this to steal the identities of the recently deceased.
Read More »A Trust Is Still a Good Idea
Up until a few years ago, a common estate-planning technique included the use of irrevocable trusts to own life insurance intended for the payment of estate taxes. Properly arranged, this method allowed the policy’s benefits to be used to pay the estate taxes of the person who died without the policy being included in the […]
Read More »Need I Be Spoiled to Have a Trust?
Mention a trust, and the first thing most people think of is a spoiled kid living off an inherited fortune without having worked a single day in life. As a result, most people don’t know very much about trusts, and they assume there’s little need to have even a basic understanding of this useful estate-planning […]
Read More »Family Values and History Are Still the Best Inheritance
According to a recent study, family values, traditions and history still mean more than money as an inheritance.
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