Year: 2020
“Is it time you made a decision on the future of the wonderful getaway that everybody loves but only you maintain?” If this winter-like weather plus pandemic have left you wondering about how to get started on passing the family vacation home to the family or preparing to sell it in the future, you’ll need […]
“Coupled with the upcoming presidential election, small to mid-sized business owners are faced with a slew of financial decisions that could impact the wealth of their business and the legacy they leave to their successors.” The upcoming presidential election is giving small to mid-sized business owners concerns regarding changes in their business, business succession planning, […]
“The proliferation of digital footprints in our online communities raises demand for consumer tools and options for dealing with digital assets upon incapacity and death.” Most people have an extensive network of digital relationships with retailers, financial institutions and even government agencies. Companies and institutions, from household utilities to grocery delivery services, have invested millions […]
“One of the most fundamental choices you can make as you’re thinking about how to pass your assets on to heirs, is whether you hold assets in a revocable trust or more simply give them via a will. Both approaches have advantages, although trusts can provide significantly more benefits.” Having a structure in place that […]
“A more present sense of one’s own mortality may drive those who have not made plans before to begin the process of creating an estate plan. For those who have existing plans, are they up to date? How does the changing economic environment affect prior decisions?” One result of the global health crisis is that […]
“It took my husband Mike’s heart attack to force us to recognize the need for having an estate plan. It was not smart. You are smarter than that. Create an estate plan today.” The time to have an estate plan really begins the moment you have assets that need to be distributed, but most people […]
“For many older adults, claiming Social Security early would be a big mistake. It was a mistake made by many older workers, who lost jobs in the Great Recession.” For older employees who are laid off as a result of the pandemic, the idea of an early retirement and taking Social Security benefits early may […]
“The recent decline in asset values may make gifting a more attractive estate planning technique for many individuals, especially if you are considering gifts of stock or other non-cash assets.” Gifting assets to a trust for children or grandchildren is often an important part of an estate plan. The recent article “Is Now a Good […]
“I am my late brother’s sole beneficiary on various investments held at different investment companies. I would like to divide the assets equally among three relatives.” This generous individual may be facing a number of legal and logistical hurdles, before assets in eight separate accounts can be passed to three relatives, says the article “Sorting […]
“It’s hard to imagine being stripped by a court of the right to make decisions about finances, medical care and other matters. It’s even harder to imagine that happening without representation or the advice from a lawyer.” In many states, if a person is deemed unable to conduct their own affairs, a court appoints a […]
