I’m twenty-four. I don’t have a home, a family I support, or any of the assets I typically see in an estate plan. On top of that, I’m young and plan to live at least into my sixties, so what is the point in investing in an estate plan? Over the past year learning more […]
Succession – Episode 2
June 29, 2018
Spoiler Alert: This post contains spoilers from the second episode. Given how Episode 1 ended, I presumed the show would have to address the issue of health care agents and access to one’s medical records. Episode 2 begins with the Roy family gathered at the hospital dealing with the recent collapse of Logan. Early in […]
The Health Care Directive – an Easy First Step into Estate Planning
July 12, 2017
There are many forms of Health Care Directives online – different styles and formats. It is often emphasized that, more than filling out the form, it’s the conversations it can spark that are really impactful. That is of course an excellent point, but I think simply getting people to fill out the form is pretty […]
Year-End Estate Planning To-Do List
December 5, 2015
The end of the year is an ideal time to review your current estate plan and confirm that you are taking advantage of all planning opportunities available to you. This includes not only tax planning, but also asset protection, probate avoidance, beneficiary designations and changes in your family and financial situations. On the other hand, […]
10 Things you must do before you die! (Not another bucket list article)
November 4, 2015
Bucket Lists have grown in popularity in the last few years. While it might seem important that you go skydiving, and swim with the dolphins before you die I would suggest taking a look at the below list and giving these items priority. Many of these items have been discussed in detail in other posts […]
Overcome Obstacles to Effective Healthcare Directives
July 21, 2015
Are improvements to healthcare directives necessary and possible? The answer is an emphatic YES! As a trusted advisor, you can blaze the trail for your clients. In the past three decades, a relatively low percent of adults have completed a healthcare directive. So what shortcomings are impeding the national acceptance of advance care planning? 10 […]
Questions To Ask Aging Parents
June 22, 2015
We are often approached by clients, who have aging parents, to find out the best way to raise the topic of estate planning with their parents. Typically the client is in the process of drafting his or her own estate plan and they realize quickly how messy the administration of an estate can be if […]
Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets
May 26, 2015
The Uniform Law Commission drafted an act to provide fiduciaries with the same access to digital assets as they have had to tangible assets. The Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (the “Act”) has been introduced in over twenty states, including Minnesota. The Act was introduced and enacted in the Minnesota House of Representatives. […]
Helping Families Today, Tomorrow & for the Future Generations – Part 2
December 16, 2014
Part 1 of Anne’s post focused on the 5 strategies of an effective healthcare directive. This week’s post shares insights regarding the selection of healthcare agent(s). Well-written healthcare directives require more than checking boxes on a perfunctory form. Clear treatment guidelines can provide meaningful support to decision-makers, reduce the risk of family conflict, and ease […]
Helping Families Today, Tomorrow & for the Future Generations – Part 1
December 10, 2014
As trusted advisors, attorneys and financial advisors, you are uniquely poised to coach individuals and families on the merits of preparing thoughtfully for end-of-life decisions. Most likely, posing questions regarding a client’s financial assets and estate intentions is part of your everyday practice. But ask yourself: Are you comfortable engaging clients in deep, probing conversation […]
Designating Authority for Business Owners
August 12, 2014
I know, I know… you have read it over and over again here on Epilawg that it is important to have documents in place for times of incapacity. Yet, as Jayne Sykora and I just attended a conference together, I was reminded of the importance to do so particularly if you own a business. As […]