Your retirement account provides asset protection during your lifetime, but as soon as you pass that account to a loved one, that protection evaporates. When a loved one inherits your retirement account, creditors can seize it and use the funds to satisfy their claims. All it takes is one lawsuit and your life savings could be […]
Having a clear conversation about death and dying is never fun. Most people avoid them because they invoke feelings about our inevitable demise. Broaching this subject can be particularly difficult for parents and their adult children. Adult children may avoid bringing up the topic for different reasons. The most common are they don’t want to think […]
When a family member or other loved one dies, grief and shock can sometimes be overwhelming. You will need this time to grieve. The last thing most people want to think about is making plans or decisions. Some things do not need to be done immediately, but there are some steps that should be taken soon […]
The majority of people associate estate planning with making arrangements for your death. However, estate planning is equally important to ensure that your family is taken care of if you are unable to take care of yourself. The inability to make decisions or care for oneself or a minor child is often referred to as incapacity. […]
The structure of families has changed in the United States: According to statistics cited by the Pew Research Center, six out of ten women who remarry are in blended families, and in about half of those remarriages, stepchildren live with the remarried couple. If you or your grown children are part of a blended family, your […]
Estate planning offers many ways to leave your inheritance to your children, but it’s just as important to know what not to do. Here are some common estate planning mistakes that you should avoid. “Oral Wills” If you feel you have a good rapport with your family or don’t have many assets, you might be tempted […]
Many people who put together an estate plan do so when they start a family – assuming they put an estate plan together at all during their lifetime. While putting an estate plan together is a good thing to do, many people make few updates once the plan has been created, despite other key life changes […]
What constitutes a “large” gift can be relative. That being said, if you are considering giving cash or property to someone, a little bit of planning can really help avoid negative consequences. This is particularly true if the gifted amounts are over $15,000.00, will be gifted in property, will be gifted on a regular basis, or […]
