Our Blog
The Value of having a “Plan” in Estate Planning
All too often, estate planning is viewed as a transaction: a will, a living trust, powers of attorney, etc. But the best planning happens when the professional can get to know the client on a deeper level, to uncover hopes, dreams and aspirations. It becomes more...
Estate Planning for Unmarried Partners Part One: Planning for After Death
Estate planning is creating a set of instructions that specify how property is handled after death, and how property and health care decisions are handled during a period of incapacity. Proper estate planning is important for everyone. But for unmarried...
Disinheriting A Child
Most parents choose to leave their estates equally to their children. But sometimes, parents intentionally choose to not leave anything to a child. There may be what the parents consider to be a legitimate reason: one child has been more financially successful than...
Advanced Directives: Living Wills Are A Critical Component to Estate Planning
March 31, 2012 marked the seventh anniversary of the death of Terri Schiavo, the 41-year-old who succumbed after her feeding tube was removed as part of a very public legal battle between her husband and parents. As you may recall, Terri Schiavo was in a coma for...
How to Leave Assets to Minor Children
How to Leave Assets to Minor Children Every parent wants to make sure their children are provided for in the event something happens to them while the children are still minors. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives often want to leave some of their assets...
8 Estate Planning Things to Do Before You Travel
8 Estate Planning Things to Do Before You Travel Before any trip, most of us create a “to-do list” of things we have put off and want to take care of before we leave. Here is a checklist of estate planning things to do before you take your next trip. Taking care of...
Understanding Funding Your Living Trust
Understanding Funding Your Living Trust Why and How to Transfer Your Assets To Your Revocable Living Trust These days many people choose a revocable living trust instead of relying on a will or joint ownership in their estate plan. They like the cost and time...
VA Benefits For Long-Term Care of Veterans and Their Surviving Spouses
Many wartime veterans and their surviving spouses are currently receiving long-term care or will need some type of long-term care in the near future. The Veterans Administration has funds that are available to help pay for this care, yet many families are not even...
Why You Should Name a Stand-Alone Retirement Trust as Beneficiary
Why You Should Name a Stand-Alone Retirement Trust as Beneficiary (For IRAs and Other Tax-Deferred Retirement Accounts) Naming the right beneficiary for tax-deferred retirement accounts is critical. Most people want to continue the tax-deferred growth for as long as...
Ensuring Income Tax Deferral for Retirement Plan Beneficiaries
Some of the most generous provisions of the tax code are those that permit beneficiaries of IRAs and other qualified retirement plans to defer income tax on the plans until time of withdrawal. This allows the IRA or qualified plan to grow significantly more than if it...