Tag Archives: estate planning
What is a Will?
If you asked a group of people, “What is a will?” you may be surprised to find out that many people do not know exactly what a will can (and cannot do). However, having a clear understanding of the purpose, benefits, and limitations of a will is extremely important. What is a Will, and… Read More »
National Home Remodeling Month: Can I Remodel My Own Estate Planning Documents?
Do you know that, according to the National Association of Home Builders, May is National Home Remodeling Month? Many people associate spring with cleaning out the old, brushing off the dirt accumulated from the long winter, and starting projects around the house that have been neglected for far too long. Perhaps, however, your home… Read More »
How to Talk to Mom and Dad about Creating an Estate Plan
Conversations about death and dying are rarely fun. Most people avoid them because they invoke feelings about our inevitable demise. Broaching this subject of creating an estate plan can be particularly difficult for parents and their adult children. Adult children may avoid bringing up the topic because they do not want to think about… Read More »
Five Reasons to Protect your Retirement Accounts Now
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 your spouse, child, or other loved one inherits your retirement account, creditors have the power to seize it and use the funds to satisfy their claims. This means one… Read More »
March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month
In March of 1987, the Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month began, calling upon all Americans to provide the opportunities and encouragement necessary for people with developmental disabilities to reach their potential. Since then, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) holds a campaign each March to communicate the importance of inclusion and story… Read More »
Reviewing and Updating Your Estate Plan after the Death of a Loved One
The death of a loved one is never easy. Regardless of your relationship with the deceased (blood relative, life partner, or close friend), you need space and time to process and grieve your loss. Once you have had time to cope with all that has happened, you should consider updating your estate plan in… Read More »
A Guide to Leaving Real Estate to Loved Ones (+ Pros and Cons)
Owning real estate continues to be a very popular investment vehicle for individuals and couples alike. One attractive feature of investing in real estate is that investment property can also double as a personal residence. In other cases, real estate investments may be rental, recreational, commercial, or farm properties. Whatever the case, it is… Read More »
Coping With More Days of Pandemic Uncertainty
We have vaccines, however the rollout has been slower than expected. COVID-19 is raging throughout many states. So how do we continue to maintain strong mental health during the next several months after enduring so much already? The human being is hardwired to evaluate risks that can interfere with our wellbeing. However, these evolved… Read More »
Caution: Beware of DIY Estate Planning
We hear this question about DIY estate planning all the time: “Can’t I just grab a will off the internet, do a transfer-on-death deed for my land, put my kids on my bank account, and be done with my estate plan?” DIY estate planning is just not a good idea. For the plan to… Read More »
Should You Own Your Timeshare in Your Trust?
Timeshares have come a long way since they first arrived in the real estate market back in the ’70s. In the early days of timeshare ownership, high-pressure sales tactics, exceedingly vague contracts, and inflexible scheduling policies caused many people to quickly regret such purchases. Over time, however, timeshares have become more consumer-friendly with greater… Read More »
