Fighting over provisions in your will or trust can derail your final wishes, rapidly deplete your financial legacy, and tear your loved ones apart. However, with proper planning, you can help your family avoid a potentially disastrous fight. If you are concerned about...
Firm News
Estate Planning That Expresses Who You Are
5 Things to Talk About with Your Family You intend to pass along your hard-earned money and property through your estate plan, but what about your wisdom? Ensuring that you successfully pass all of this along may call for a family meeting to discuss your finances,...
Staying Active and Enjoying the Outdoors in Retirement: The Key to a Healthy, Happy Lifestyle
Retirement is the perfect opportunity to slow down, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labor—but it doesn’t mean you have to stop moving! Staying active, especially outdoors, is one of the best ways to maintain physical health, improve mental well-being, and enjoy...
Spring Cleaning for Seniors 65+: Organizing Your Documents
Spring cleaning isn’t just for decluttering your home; it’s a great time to organize important documents, especially for seniors 65 and older. As we age, it becomes even more important to stay organized, as managing paperwork can help reduce stress, ensure that...
April Showers Bring May Flowers: What Do Your Estate Planning Documents Say About You?
Just as the rains of April nurture the blooming flowers of May, the rainy days of life can lead to the blooming of your legacy when you have thoughtful estate planning in place. Estate planning isn’t just about preparing for the inevitable—it’s about taking control of...
Beneficiary and Transfer-on-Death Designations: Are You Doing It Right?
Do you know which of your accounts have beneficiary designations, sometimes called transfer-on-death (TOD) or payable-on-death (POD) designations? Have you updated them recently? Are you aware of what can go wrong if there are issues with your beneficiary designation...
Choosing the Ideal Trust for Your Wishes
The term estate may bring to mind mansions, vast fortunes, and a level of wealth that many people do not possess. This misconception may lead to the false impression that estate planning is only for the rich and famous, discouraging those with more modest means from...
How Do You Want to Leave Your Money Behind?
Is Outright Distribution the Perfect Fit for Your Loved Ones? Although Americans are living longer and spending more time—and money—in retirement, many parents intend to leave an inheritance to their children. The exact amount can vary greatly depending on individual...
Myths and Frequently Asked Questions
Estate Planning Using Asset Protection Strategies Myth 1: Asset protection planning is only for the wealthy or those with high-risk jobs, such as doctors or lawyers. Fact: Asset protection planning is for everyone. If you engage in any activity that could give rise to...
The Trust Protection Myth: Your Revocable Trust Protects Against Lawsuits
Many people believe that once they set up a revocable living trust and change the ownership of their accounts and property from themselves as individuals to their trust, those accounts and property are protected from lawsuits. This is not true. While trusts commonly...