Growing older is a fact of life, but how and where we age is a matter of personal choice. Whether you are a member of Gen Y, Gen X, the Baby Boom, or the Silent Generation, you have an opportunity to define the next years of your life on your own terms. But it’s an […]
Appointing a Guardian for Minor Children
June 5, 2011
Having a baby or adopting a child is a major life event that should cause people to start thinking about estate planning. Most specifically, creating a will to nominate a guardian if something were to happen to both parents. For many, choosing a guardian for minor children is a very difficult decision; so difficult that it prevents many […]
What Happens If I Die Without A Will?
April 26, 2011
There are many misconceptions about who needs a Will and what happens if you die without one. If you die without a Will, the legal term is that you die “intestate,” meaning that you didn’t have a will drafted before you died or your will does not meet the requirements of your state’s laws. For example, […]
Your Vision, Your Values
April 2, 2011
Succession Planning from a small business owner’s perspective It has been covered a lot – and in this very blog – so you may have heard it before: succession planning for business owners is essential. Stuff happens, and when it does, Business Owner, you need to be sure that your business survives by explicitly specifying […]
Teach Your Children Well Part 3: Financial Education for Teenagers
March 17, 2011
Earning and handling income Older children (especially teenagers) may earn income from part-time jobs after school or on weekends. Particularly if this money supplements any allowance you give them, wages enable children to get a greater taste of financial independence. Earned income from part-time jobs might be subject to withholdings for FICA and federal and/or […]
Teach Your Children Well Part 2: Financial Education for Younger Children
March 13, 2011
Take it to the bank Piggy banks are a great way to start teaching children to save money, but opening a savings account in a “real” bank introduces them to the concepts of earning interest and the power of compounding. While children might want to spend all their allowance now, encourage them (especially older children) […]
Teach Your Children Well Part 1: Basic Financial Education
March 10, 2011
Even before your children can count, they already know something about money: it’s what you have to give the ice cream man to get a cone, or put in the slot to ride the rocket ship at the grocery store. So, as soon as your children begin to handle money, start teaching them how to […]
Digital Assets
In November 2004, a US Marine named Justin Ellsworth was killed in action in Iraq. His parents wanted access to Justin’s email account and asked Yahoo! for help. Yahoo! said no; allowing anyone access to another person’s email account is against their terms of service. Ellsworth’s parents decided to take Yahoo! to court and on […]
“Lame Duck” Session is Anything But…
January 9, 2011
As 2010 came to a close, the professional advisor community felt continued uncertainty about the estate tax come back amidst year-long congressional inaction; however, after a brief battle and a valiant show of bi-partisanship in both the Senate and the House, President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of […]
Benefits for Veterans and Servicemembers
November 11, 2010
People join the military for a variety of reasons. For some, enlisting is a family tradition. Others join out of a strong sense of patriotism. And some folks have just watched too many war movies as a kid. Personally, the benefits were one of the many reasons I joined the military. I knew I wanted […]
The Benefits of Utilizing Corporate Trustees in Your Estate Plan
October 18, 2010
Selection of the appropriate trustee is often an emotional decision. While many grantors may feel that naming someone outside the family to act as trustee may be seen as a “vote of no confidence” for their family, they should instead view that decision as both loving and prudent. Simply put, when a grantor names a […]