Tag Archives: estate planning
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 »
What to do with your inherited retirement account
For decades, common financial planning wisdom has encouraged almost all-American workers to maximize their contributions to qualified retirement accounts. Indeed, doing so can be a powerful way to reduce your current income tax liability, grow your savings exponentially tax-free, and, in most states, protect your savings from claims of creditors. And by and large,… Read More »
What is the Probate Process?
Probate is the legal process for authenticating a deceased person’s last will and testament, reviewing their assets, paying their outstanding debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to their heirs. After an asset-holder dies, the court will appoint the person nominated as personal representative under a valid will to administer the estate of the… Read More »
Letter of Instruction for Your Estate Plan
Whether you are starting from scratch or have an estate plan in place, a letter of instruction (LOI) is an important part of any comprehensive plan. A letter of instruction can help your loved ones manage important information about you. A letter of instruction conveys your desires, includes practical information about where to find… Read More »
All in the Family: Making Sense of Per Stirpes, By Representation, and Per Capita Distributions
“That’s not fair!” In many households, this is the common refrain of children as they advocate for themselves or express what they feel to be unjust. This pursuit of fairness, however, is not limited to arguments between parents and young children. The notion of fairness often pervades family dynamics and may continue even beyond… Read More »
