estate planning
Updating Your Estate Plan? Don’t Make These Top Mistakes
Updating Your Estate Plan? Don’t Make These Top Mistakes
You’re making the effort to stay on top of your estate plan. That’s great! Now don’t mess it up. Here is how to avoid five of the biggest blunders peo…
June 30, 2022
33 States with No Estate Taxes or Inheritance Taxes
33 States with No Estate Taxes or Inheritance Taxes
Even with the federal exemption from death taxes raised, retirees should pay more attention to estate taxes and inheritance taxes levied by states.
June 23, 2022
Marriage: When You’d Rather Not
Marriage: When You’d Rather Not
Same-sex couples planning for a long-term commitment need to have the right estate planning documents in place, whether they are married or not.
June 16, 2022
Remember, You’re Worth More Than Your Money
Remember, You’re Worth More Than Your Money
When it comes to estate planning, it’s time for us all to look beyond the money … with an ethical will.
June 11, 2022
Tax Changes and Key Amounts for the 2022 Tax Year
Tax Changes and Key Amounts for the 2022 Tax Year
Americans are facing a long list of tax changes for the 2022 tax year. Smart taxpayers will start planning for them now.
June 10, 2022
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Estate Planning: A Special Trust for Special Needs Children
Estate Planning: A Special Trust for Special Needs Children
Special needs trusts can help fund quality-of-life improvements for the beneficiary, such as a phone, a trip or a private room in a group care facilit…
June 8, 2022
The (Only) 3 Reasons You Should Have an Irrevocable Trust
The (Only) 3 Reasons You Should Have an Irrevocable Trust
Should you really agree to give up control of your assets? There are some good reasons to get this type of trust, but there are some major drawbacks a…
June 7, 2022
How Amy Schumer’s Openness on Trichotillomania Made Me Inject Purpose into My Estate Plan
How Amy Schumer’s Openness on Trichotillomania Made Me Inject Purpose into My Estate Plan
If a charity holds a special place in your heart, here are three practical ways you can support it through your estate plan.
June 7, 2022
Beneficiary Designations: 5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid
Beneficiary Designations: 5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid
You may be surprised at how easy it is to make an expensive mistake with your beneficiary designations. Here's how to help avoid the five most common …
June 6, 2022
Don’t Want to Leave Money to Your Kids? You’ll Probably Change Your Mind.
Don’t Want to Leave Money to Your Kids? You’ll Probably Change Your Mind.
How much is too much to leave your children? You may be surprised.
May 26, 2022
Things You’ll Regret Keeping in a Safe Deposit Box
Things You’ll Regret Keeping in a Safe Deposit Box
Locking up certain important documents and valuables in a bank vault could turn into a headache for you or your heirs.
May 18, 2022
4 Tax-Smart Ways to Share the Wealth with Kids
4 Tax-Smart Ways to Share the Wealth with Kids
Providing for future generations shouldn’t be (overly) taxing. To manage taxes as you pass down your assets, look into UTMAs, 529s, child IRAs and tru…
May 15, 2022
6 of the Worst Assets to Inherit
6 of the Worst Assets to Inherit
Leaving these assets to loved ones may be more trouble than it’s worth. How to avoid adding to their grief after you're gone.
May 11, 2022
Keeping Property in the Family with LLCs and Partnerships
Keeping Property in the Family with LLCs and Partnerships
Passing a farm, vacation home or other property down for generation after generation has its challenges. LLCs and partnerships can help.
April 29, 2022
Don’t Throw Away a $12.06M Estate Tax Exemption by Accident
Don’t Throw Away a $12.06M Estate Tax Exemption by Accident
Many married couples fall into the “portability trap.” They fail to file an IRS form after one spouse dies and accidentally forfeit a massive federal …
April 14, 2022
Estate Planning Lessons from My Mother’s Cancer Diagnosis
Estate Planning Lessons from My Mother’s Cancer Diagnosis
As an estate planning attorney, I know that advance medical directives are critical – but my experience with my mother deepened my conviction to help …
April 8, 2022
Does Your Estate Plan Call for More Than Just a Will?
Does Your Estate Plan Call for More Than Just a Will?
Everyone needs a will, but some people need more than that. To save on taxes and make for a smooth transition, they could really use a revocable trust…
April 4, 2022
What’s Your Investing Time Frame?
What’s Your Investing Time Frame?
It’s something you need to fully grasp to effectively pass down your wealth to the next generation (if you’re well off) – or avoid running out of mone…
March 29, 2022
When Do Living Trusts Make Sense?
When Do Living Trusts Make Sense?
A trust can solve a lot of problems. But like all tools, it can also be misused.
March 24, 2022
Got Cash on Hand? How to Protect It from Lawsuits
Got Cash on Hand? How to Protect It from Lawsuits
Over 15 million lawsuits are filed annually in this country. Are your liquid assets protected? An asset protection trust could help. Here’s how.
March 24, 2022
Living Trusts: The Myths, the Benefits and the Rest
Living Trusts: The Myths, the Benefits and the Rest
Living trusts don't reduce estate taxes or negate the need for a will. But a charitable trust does provide tax benefits.
March 23, 2022
Discussing Family Legacy Plans? 5 Tips to Navigate ‘the Talk’
Discussing Family Legacy Plans? 5 Tips to Navigate ‘the Talk’
A successful plan to pass wealth on to future generations takes effective communication delivered with a dose of sensitivity.
March 23, 2022
How to Protect Your Estate: A Pandemic-Inspired Checklist
How to Protect Your Estate: A Pandemic-Inspired Checklist
The pandemic has proved that preparation is critical, so if you’re ready to get your estate in order, here’s where to start.
March 3, 2022
18 States With Scary Death Taxes
18 States With Scary Death Taxes
Federal estate taxes are no longer a problem for all but the extremely wealthy, but several states have their own estate taxes and inheritance taxes t…
February 23, 2022
Exes, Stepchildren and Your Will: A Cautionary Tale
Exes, Stepchildren and Your Will: A Cautionary Tale
Don’t be like Bob. After his divorce, he failed to update his estate plan, which listed his stepdaughter as a beneficiary.
February 22, 2022
Even Your Pet Needs an Estate Plan
Even Your Pet Needs an Estate Plan
Who will feed Fifi once you’re gone? It's something you should probably put in writing. There are three different ways to do that, some offering more …
February 17, 2022