5 Things You Need to Know Before You Name Beneficiaries

April 17, 2015
Once you have chosen the people you want to receive any of your assets — either from a will, a trust, a life insurance policy or a retirement or bank account — the way you designate how they will inherit should be a key consideration. Here are five things you need to know before you…
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10 Items That Should be Evaluated During an Estate Plan Review

April 3, 2015
Estate planning is an ongoing process, and plans should be reviewed with a qualified estate planning attorney every few years to ensure that the goals you set in making your plan are still valid. When reviewing your estate plan, keep these things in mind: Your estate plan only works if your assets are owned properly…
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A Duty Checklist for Trustees of a Trust

April 3, 2015
It’s no misnomer that a position with so much responsibility carries the name “trustee”. After all, you have been entrusted with a solemn responsibility and you no doubt want to do the best possible job. Here are 10 things to do when you are appointed trustee of a trust: 1. Read the trust document, which…
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The Pros and Cons of Prenuptial Agreements

March 20, 2015
Americans today are getting married later in life.  Currently, the average age of a first marriage is 27 for women and 29 for men — an increase of four years for women and three years for men in just the last 25 years. So it may not be so surprising that more well-established brides and…
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Asset Protection: When a Will Won’t Work

March 13, 2015
One of the most prevalent misconceptions when it comes to estate planning is that if you have a will, it will take care of everything that needs to happen after you die in terms of your assets.  But before you leave everything to just a will, consider these circumstances where a will simply doesn’t work:…
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The Basic Estate Planning Task EVERY Adult Needs to Review Today

February 19, 2015
With the federal estate tax exemption at $5.43 million for 2015, many people think estate planning is unnecessary. But there’s one thing ALL adults over the age of 18 need to look at, regardless of estate taxes: beneficiary designations. You would be amazed at how many people neglect this simple step, and their heirs and…
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Reasons to Establish a Trust (and Being Rich Isn’t One of Them)

February 5, 2015
When you hear the words, “trust fund,” do you conjure up images of stately mansions and party yachts? A trust fund – or trust – is actually a great estate planning tool for many people with a wide range of incomes who want to accomplish a specific purpose with their money. Simply put, a trust…
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Joan Rivers Has Last Laugh Through Use of a Family Trust

December 18, 2014
Famous comedienne, Joan Rivers, who died unexpectedly on September 4, 2014, from what is alleged to be a botched medical procedure, made millions making us all laugh. Some of her most infamous routines centered around skewering celebrities, most notably legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor. For Rivers’ comedy, everyone and everything was fair game for exposure. But…
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‘Tis the Season to Be Gifting: How to Do It Right

December 11, 2014
Not many people would view the IRS as a charitable organization, but you might if you plan your gifting appropriately – i.e., in a way that will benefit you on your income and gift taxes. Here are guidelines when gifting to charity or your own family members this season: Charitable Donation Rules Household items. These…
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Special Needs Trust: Protection for Those Who Need It the Most

December 4, 2014
Families of those with disabilities – physical or mental – are typically concerned with the best way to fund the long-term financial and personal needs of their special needs loved one in a way that will secure a fulfilling life for them. The best vehicle to accomplish this goal is known as a Special Needs…
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Asset Protection

Have a Trust? How the Corporate Transparency Act Affects You

Get ready for an interesting twist in the world of legal and business news. You may already be familiar with the upcoming Corporate Transparency Act, set to kick in next year. If you aren’t, it’s time to get in the…

Keep the Government and Lawsuit Happy Opportunists Away From Your Children’s Inheritance

If you have a current estate plan, I’ll bet you plan to leave your assets to your children outright and unprotected by age 35, or maybe a little later. Go take a look at your estate plan, and see what…

Before You Agree to Be a Trustee, Read This!

Being asked by a loved one to serve as Trustee for their Trust upon their death can be quite an honor, but it’s also a significant responsibility—and the role is not for everyone. Indeed, serving as a Trustee entails a…

4 Essential Strategies For Protecting Your Family’s Assets

You might think that only the super wealthy need to worry about asset protection planning. But the truth is that if you don’t have millions, you may be at even greater risk. For instance, if you are a multi-millionaire, a…

3 Reasons Why Transferring Ownership Of Your Home To Your Child Is A Bad Idea

Whether it’s to qualify for Medicaid, avoid probate, or reduce your tax burden, transferring ownership of your home to your adult child during your lifetime may seem like a smart move. But in nearly all cases, it’s actually a huge…

How Naming Guardians For Your Kids In Your Will Can Leave Them At Risk

If you are a mom or dad with children under the age of 18 at home, your number-one estate planning priority should be selecting and legally documenting both long and short-term guardians for your kids. Guardians are the people legally…

Does Your Family Need Umbrella Insurance?

In today’s highly litigious society you are at near-constant risk for costly lawsuits—even if you’ve done nothing wrong. This is especially true if you have substantial wealth, but even those with relatively few assets can find themselves in court facing…

Protect Your Children’s Inheritance With A Lifetime Asset Protection Trust

As a parent, you’re likely hoping to leave your children an inheritance. In fact, doing so may be one of the primary factors motivating your life’s work. But without taking the proper precautions, the wealth you pass on is at…

7 Last-Minute Moves To Save On Your Taxes For 2021

Although many strategies to save on your income taxes must be locked in before the end of the year, there are still numerous ways you can reduce your tax bill right up until the filing deadline, which has been pushed…

Probate: What It Is & How To Avoid It—Part 2

Unless you’ve created an estate plan that works to keep your family out of court, when you die (or become incapacitated) many of your assets must go through probate before those assets can be distributed to your heirs. Like most…

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