While families are working on their financial plan, saving for retirement, buying a new house, or updating their insurance policies, all too often, estate planning is put on the back burner. Just as life happens, so does death. An unexpected death can result in a situation where the estate plan in place does not apply […]
Read More »Basic Estate Planning Mistakes You Can Stop Making
Estate planning tends to get pushed to the back burner, as more pressing financial tasks take center stage. But neglecting estate planning is a huge mistake. Estate planning may involve hiring an attorney or financial advisor, but plenty of people make the mistake of going about estate planning on their own. Some 38% of those […]
Read More »Estate Planning Lessons in the Death of Whitney Houston’s Daughter
Bobbi Kristina Brown’s tragic death offers a number of poignant end-of-life lessons for parents, young adults, and seniors alike. First and foremost, health and legal experts say Brown’s death spotlights the need for establishing written advance medical directives as early as age 18. These include the designation of a healthcare proxy, a living will, and […]
Read More »Problems Posed by Probate
For those who have specific goals for their assets once they leave this world, an estate plan becomes an essential component of their financial plan. There are many benefits to having an estate plan, including ensuring that your wishes will be carried out and making the process of administering your estate much less of a […]
Read More »Managing the Digital Assets of the Deceased
According to a 2007 study conducted by Microsoft, the average web user has 25 online accounts ranging from social network accounts to banking and financial accounts. In America alone, nearly 72% of American adults have an online presence or use social media sites. These accounts are a part of the web that links almost everyone […]
Read More »Help for the Brand New Executor
When you are named as executor after someone has died, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Ideally, the deceased told you in advance that they were planning to name you as executor and you had a chance to discuss their wishes and gather information. But that is not always the case and […]
Read More »Mr. Cub Alleged to Have Dementia when He Signed New Will
The estranged wife of late Cubs legend Ernie Banks claims the Hall of Famer was diagnosed with dementia days before he signed a will that left his entire estate to his caregiver.
Read More »Tips on Transferring Your Parents’ Brokerage Accounts After They Die
Only two months after launching a helpline for seniors, FINRA has received a number of calls from stressed family members with questions about the transfer of brokerage account assets upon death, so it has released an extensive investor alert dealing with the issue. Since the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority introduced the Securities Helpline for Seniors […]
Read More »Why Do You Need a Will?
This article gives the example of a businessman who had named his son as the nominee in all his investments. Since the son was managing all the father’s investments, it was convenient. But since the businessman passed away without making a will, now his daughter is finding it difficult to prove that she, too, has […]
Read More »Now That’s Awkward!
An awkward part of estate planning is telling your kids how much — or how little — they’ll get. Here’s how a financial planner can help. For clients, one of the most stressful aspects of estate planning — already an emotionally difficult process — is the prospect of telling heirs what they plan to […]
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