Advisor One shared a useful story this week that touches on an item commonly forgotten in wealth transfers, including those using trusts or other legal tools. It is critical to remember how insurance coverage might be affected by the transfer. That way, changes can be made immediately to guarantee that…
Communication is absolutely essential to quality estate planning. That includes both sharing of information between client and planner, as well as the client being open and honest with their family about their wishes. Some might want to avoid difficult conversations about inheritances by keeping silent and allowing family members to…
There are no shortage of articles discussing the need to get serious about planning for your retirement. Money is seemingly always tight, and taking a significant portion of assets and putting it away for another day is rarely an easy step. That is particularly true for middle class families who…
If you pass away without a will designating how you’d like your affairs to be handled, you are deemed to have died “intestate.” Some of the most significant legal battles and family feuding occurs in those situation because it is essentially a free-for-all. Generic legal rules apply, but without any…
Feuding after a death has been common for centuries. However, observers point out that in recent years estate battles have actually grown and more frequent. The trend is noted for all families, both those with sizeable wealth and those of much smaller estates. It is a crucial reminder for residents…
One common excuse for putting off basic estate planning is the assumption that others–spouse, children, siblings, close friends–already know exactly what you want, and so there is little need to go through the legal hoops to solidify it. Sadly, in the aftermath of a passing, there is no way to…
The last few months of 2012 were filled with mass speculation about how many federal tax issues would ultimately be decided. One part of the high-profile “fiscal cliff” proposal and competing options was the estate tax. As oft-discussed, the final tax details could have fallen anywhere between a $1 million…
Like it or not, our world is infatuated with technology. Smartphones conduct intercontinental transactions. Friends across the country communicate through instantaneous text messaging, and telephones and tablets close distances and miles through face to face conversations. Because technology plays such an important role in our daily lives, today’s estate planning…
The birth of a child, a soldier’s welcome home, a wedding, a graduation, holiday festivities, or even a birthday party are all examples of gatherings where, more often than not, a blended family is present, taking part and celebrating. In the U.S., first marriages, second marriages and remarriages regularly welcome…
Over the past few years more and more attention has been paid to the value of “digital” assets and the need to account for them in estate planning. Yet, for all the increased awareness, there is still a long way to go before all families properly plan for handing online…