Year-End Estate Planning To-Do List


December 5, 2015
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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, […]

Overcome Obstacles to Effective Healthcare Directives


July 21, 2015
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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 […]

Vacationing Without the Kids??


March 30, 2015
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Designation of Standby or Temporary Custodian for your Child So, you and your spouse are finally ready to take that vacation to Mexico – without the kids. The flights are booked, your bags are nearly packed and thoughts of warm weather and a beach are in the forefront of your mind . . . as […]

Helping Families Today, Tomorrow & for the Future Generations – Part 2


December 16, 2014
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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
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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 […]

Basics of Minnesota Medical Assistance


April 14, 2014
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Over half of the population will require long-term care at some point in their lives.  Paying for long-term care is a topic that many people avoid addressing until the last minute; however, due to the rising costs of skilled nursing care it should really be addressed sooner rather than later.  In Minnesota the average daily […]

Organizing Your Accounts and Passwords


March 5, 2014
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I emphasize to all of my estate planning clients the importance of keeping track of your assets, what they are, where they are located, etc. The reason: a Will or Trust instructs your Personal Representative or Trustee on how you want your assets to be distributed after your death, but not always what those assets […]

ESTATE PLANNING FOR YOUNG ADULTS…REALLY?


November 27, 2013
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If you have a young adult child coming home for the holidays, the Thanksgiving table might serve as a good opportunity to talk with them about estate planning.   While most young adults do not own property or have children that may necessitate a Will, two major estate planning documents are often overlooked by young people […]

I Need a Revocable Trust … Right?


August 5, 2013
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This statement (turned inquiry) may or may not be true.  It depends on a variety of factors and client goals.  Deciding whether to use a will or a revocable trust (a.k.a. living trust or revocable living trust) as one’s primary estate planning document is a question to be discussed with an estate planning attorney.  The […]

Avoiding Power of Attorney Abuse


July 26, 2013
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In a previous post I spelled out the basics of the changes made to Minnesota’s Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney that will take effect January 1, 2014. As I mentioned, many of these changes were made to address the potential for abuse. Indeed, a Power of Attorney document gives broad and sweeping powers to […]