Many of us are surprised that our assets may not go to those named in our Will. However, if you have assets controlled by beneficiary designations or other non-probate transfers, that’s the case. Read on to learn how a Will might not control all your assets. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...]
Planning for the SECURE Act
The SECURE Act passed in late December. The SECURE Act changes some lifetime rules, but the biggest change concerns rules for beneficiaries. The first article in this series examined the SECURE Act. This article examines some planning strategies for dealing with the SECURE Act. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...]
The SECURE Act and What It Means for You
The SECURE Act passed in late December. The SECURE Act changes some lifetime rules, but the biggest change concerns rules for beneficiaries. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...]
Does Your Power of Attorney Allow Gifts to Be Made?
A Power of Attorney is among the most commonly used of all estate planning documents. As such, there is a very good chance that you will execute, and/or be named as an Agent in, a Power of Attorney at some point. If so, it is imperative that you understand how the Agent’s ability to make gifts is treated in the document. To help you better understand, we will discuss the ability to make gifts in a Power of Attorney. What Is a Power of Attorney? A power of attorney, or POA, is a legal document … [Read more...]
Estate Planning Conference Discusses SECURE Act and More
The Heckerling conference, the largest conference for Estate Planning in the country, occurred last week in Orlando, FL. Many of the thought leaders in Estate Planning and Elder Law got together and discussed recent developments and new strategies. The SECURE Act was the biggest topic this time. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...]
Is a Geriatric Care Manager Right for You?
If you are acting as a caregiver for an elderly loved one, you will undoubtedly feel overwhelmed at some point (if not on a regular basis!) One thing that may be able to help is contacting a geriatric care manager. We hope this report will help you decide if a geriatric care manager is right for you. Caregiving by the Numbers For a caregiver, it often feels as though they are the only person in the world going through the trials and tribulations of providing care to an elderly loved one. … [Read more...]
Estate Planning vs. Legacy Planning
If you have spent a lifetime building up what you consider to be your legacy for future generations, be sure to protect it by creating a thorough legacy plan. Although the wealth you have accumulated during your lifetime is certainly part of your legacy, your legacy may also include the ideals and principles that you have lived by during your lifetime. These are the things that make up your legacy and need to be reflected in your legacy plan. Think of a legacy plan as a continuation of your … [Read more...]
Estate Planning: It’s Not Just all About Death
Some folks want to avoid estate planning because they associate it with death. However, estate planning is NOT just about death. In fact, good estate planning is focused on life, including retirement planning, college planning, gifting programs, charitable planning, asset ownership, asset protection, disability protection, and tax strategies. An experienced and qualified estate planning attorney can design a comprehensive estate plan that protects you and your family, while you’re alive … [Read more...]
Estate Planning for the Blended Family
In the United States, the divorce rate is around 50 percent for a first-marriage with a significant percentage of those divorces resulting in a remarriage. Consequently, blended families are fairly common in the U.S. If you are part of a blended family, you know the hard work it takes to successfully blend two existing families into one harmonious new family. One thing you don’t want to overlook when creating a blended family is the heightened importance of a having a comprehensive estate plan … [Read more...]
Why You Need Incapacity Planning as Well as Estate Planning
When you’re healthy, it’s hard to imagine being unhealthy. But it happens; in fact, if you’re in your thirties or forties, you are three times more likely to become incapacitated in any one year than to die. Incapacity refers to the inability to provide informed consent for medical decisions; it also refers to the inability to manage your finances and make day-to-day personal business decisions. Incapacity can be caused by a car accident, work accident, medicine overdose, stroke, head … [Read more...]
