Establishing a Trust? Know the Costs
Trust fees vary widely so it pays to shop around and get quotes before making any commitments. Be sure you …More
Financial & Estate Planning
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Relieving Your Survivors of the Burden of Funeral Planning
Although no one wants to think about their own funeral arrangements, ignoring the issue can lead to over-spending that will …More
Beneficiary Considerations for Your IRA
Chances are you’ve spent a certain amount of time on the creation of your will. You’ve discussed the provisions with …More
Making Sure Your Trustee is Trustworthy
Every trust needs a trustee to assume responsibility for handling trust assets. Your choices include: Individual trustee: A friend or …More
Making the Most of a Will
To ensure your will stands up it should be written by an attorney. Wills that you write yourself, or fill-in-the-blank …More
An Education in 529 Plan Ownership
If you are investing in Section 529 college savings plans for your children or possibly for grandchildren, you may accumulate …More
Your Options for Selecting a Trustee
If you decide to leave assets in a trust for your beneficiaries, consider your designation of trustee carefully. The most …More
A Retirement Plan May Become Worthless, but Planning is Everything
In these articles and with my clients, I hound on the importance of having a plan for the future. A …More
Set Goals First, Then Make an Estate Plan
Estate planning is more than tax planning. Beyond finances, you should have goals for your estate plan. Are there specific …More
Protect Your Estate With Life Insurance
Life insurance may play a vital role in an estate plan because insurance proceeds can be counted on to provide …More
Bitcoin for Your IRA?
For decades, gold has been a safe-haven for investors during economic downturn. But what about Bitcoin? After earning the nickname …More
Providing for Both Sides of a Blended Family
Many Americans have so-called “blended” families now. In such a family, one or both spouses have children from a previous …More
Using Joint Ownership for Assets
For certain assets, you might prefer to hold title as “joint tenants with right of survivorship (JTWROS).” That gives the …More
Guarding Against the Possibility of Your Incapacity
As part of your financial and estate planning, you should make arrangements for your care in case you become incapacitated. …More
Retirement Preparation beyond Waiting for Eligibility
While it’s important for federal employees to understand when they will be able to draw retirement benefits, retirement planning means …More
Options for Designating Ownership of Assets
The way in which you hold your assets can affect your financial and estate planning. * Sole ownership. Holding assets …More
Why You Might Want a Revocable Trust
Revocable living trusts are increasingly popular. In most revocable trusts, you (the trust creator) are also the trustee and the …More
Second Thoughts on Custodial Accounts for Children
Using custodial accounts to hold assets for children is simple, inexpensive, and effective for income tax savings. There are drawbacks, …More
Education Savings Plan Considerations
Many people have created revocable living trusts to hold their assets. If you have such a trust, should you use …More
Saving Is Just Part of Retirement Planning
Much of the attention to retirement planning involves building up savings, but proper financial preparation for retirement involves more than …More