by Christine | Dec 3, 2013 | Disability Insurance, Estate Planning, LIfe Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance |
Discomfort with the details prevents many people from obtaining the necessary coverage. The kinds of insurances we are “required” to buy help us with the minor bumps and scrapes in life and are sometimes easy to think about, shop for or ensure that we have adequate...
by Christine | Dec 2, 2013 | College, Estate Planning, Financial Aid, GIfting |
"Kids inherit money. We don't want it." Sometimes too much inheritance all at once is a threat to moral development, it’s true, but sometimes a gift can threaten a college education by complicating financial aid. As parents of the college-bound...
by Christine | Nov 29, 2013 | Charitable Giving, GIfting |
I know that most people will simply write a check to their charity of choice but for many, there is a more tax efficient way to gift, right? With the end of 2013 fast approaching, have you considered your year-end charitable gift strategy? While it is sometimes hard...
by Christine | Nov 28, 2013 | Blended Families, Estate Planning |
When Carol and Mike Brady got together on the classic TV show "The Brady Bunch," there wasn't a lot of discussion about how the couple would handle things like updating their life insurance policies to reflect their new, blended family, or...
by Christine | Nov 27, 2013 | Estate Law, Estate Planning |
Estate planning is the process of legally structuring the future disposition of current and projected assets. Estate planning is many things. In order to present a solid definition of this particular type of planning, a recent Forbes article posed the question, “What...
by Christine | Nov 26, 2013 | Elder Care, Elder Law |
Now I am 86 and almost blind. I cannot read the bills that come in the mail nor sign my own checks. I must be escorted to medical appointments. My busy children are kind beyond measure, but I am uncomfortable in these situations. And being uncomfortable makes me sharp...
by Christine | Nov 25, 2013 | Beneficiary Designation, Estate Planning, Probate, Wills |
A will may say to divide an estate equally among three children. But if a particular account is titled to pass to just one, only that beneficiary will get the account. Your Last Will and Testament is the legal document to put your wishes in writing and get it all...
by Christine | Nov 22, 2013 | Estate Planning, Family Business, Small Business |
What will be the most likely exit scenario from your business when the time comes? If you own a small business, what will your last day at work be like? What is your exit strategy? The answer hinges on whether your exit will be by design or by default. To exit your...
by Christine | Nov 21, 2013 | Charitable Giving |
A tax deduction for charitable giving isn’t guaranteed just because you’re feeling generous. As with everything in tax law, it’s important to follow the rules. As the holiday giving season begins with the tax year ending shortly thereafter, now is a good time to plan...
by Christine | Nov 20, 2013 | Asset Protection, Estate Planning |
Here are some potential pitfalls to keep in mind for couples who are thinking of keeping some or all of their assets separate. When two people have lived together outside of marriage for some time, the question of who owns what can get downright confusing. Obviously,...
