“Windfalls can result from fortunate events, like lottery winning, and unfortunate events, like a legal settlement. Whatever the triggering event, a big injection of cash can certainly be a life-changing event in someone’s life.” Few would complain about a financial windfall, but many people report feeling feelings of anxiety, guilt and stress about what to […]

“Creditors typically try to collect on unpaid debt, by going after the decedent’s estate during a process called probate.” When a person dies, it’s not unusual for them to leave behind some unpaid debt. What happens to that debt depends upon how their estate was organized, says the article “This is how your unpaid debts […]

“’Per stirpes’ vs. ‘per capita.’ Making the wrong choice could cause an estate planning disaster.” No one relishes the idea of planning for their own death, but the alternative of not planning and leaving your family members to sort out an expensive mess is a poor way to be remembered. According to a recent article […]

“For example, did you name someone as an heir who is no longer in favor with you or—worse yet—has died? Who should get what they would have gotten? Are there now new people in your life—be they family members or not—whom you might wish to share in what you may have?” An estate plan isn’t […]

“If family members are anxious about each other, sometimes it seems it might be easier if they simply joined households. This is not just due to COVID-19.” Not that long ago, multigenerational living was how most people lived.  Since people are living longer, it may become the norm again. In times of crisis like these, […]

“The more you know about Social Security, the more you’ll likely be able to get out of the program.” Famous motivational speaker Zig Zigler reportedly said “If you want to earn more, learn more.” That’s true for careers and investments. It is also true for Social Security. The more you know how Social Security works, […]

“Financial planning is an important part of life. Estate planning is one key aspect of planning for the future. It can feel daunting to take on the task, but once it’s done and your future is organized, it usually feels a lot better.” Estate planning means putting together a plan on paper, following the letter […]

“Having an estate plan can ensure that fiduciaries are identified to oversee and distribute your assets in the way you would have wanted. As a business owner, your ownership assets in your estate may require a more sophisticated level of planning.” Do you need an estate plan? If you have children, ownership shares in a […]

“During the past four months, more than 141,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the pandemic has prompted some people to get serious about creating or updating their estate plans, according to Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance.” The importance of having key estate planning documents cannot be overstated. That includes […]

“If you think of estate planning as something only ultra-wealthy people need to do, you’re not alone. That’s a common misconception.” Financial planners know that most people need to have estate plans, no matter how much or even how little money they have, as explained in this recent article “I’m a financial planner, and there […]