Financial & Estate Planning

Assets left to a surviving spouse avoid estate tax, no matter how large the bequest. However, some people are reluctant …More

Estate planning is more than tax planning. Beyond finances, you should have goals for your estate plan. Are there specific …More

If you die without a will, you die “intestate” and your assets will be distributed according to your state’s law. …More

Many estate plans include trusts that take effect after death. With any type of trust, it’s up to the trustee …More

Retirement and estate planning means more than building up a large investment fund. Other vital things to do: * Pay …More

So-called “incentive trusts” offer rewards to trust beneficiaries who accomplish certain goals. With such a trust, beneficiaries might receive particular …More

Many types of assets ask you to name a beneficiary. They include IRAs, life insurance policies, annuities, payable on death …More

When you draft your will, you should name an executor. It will be up to your executor to handle all …More

Our parents always preached to us to save for a rainy day. For federal employees facing a federal shutdown it …More

Revocable trusts, also known as living trusts, are increasingly popular. They can serve two main purposes: * Probate avoidance. Assets …More

Losing a loved one is an incredibly difficult and emotionally challenging experience. The pain and grief that accompany such a …More

Money is usually a topic that families avoid around the dinner table. Thus, it often is extremely difficult to introduce …More

In case you missed it, the IRS released updated guidelines regarding Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) from inherited retirement accounts. We …More

Life insurance may play a vital role in an estate plan because insurance proceeds can be counted on to provide …More

Life insurance may play a vital role in an estate plan because insurance proceeds can be counted on to provide …More

A power of attorney grants someone (the “agent”) authority to act on behalf of another party (the “principal”). A “durable” …More

After you retire, the pay will stop coming and while the annuity will start, it won’t be as large as …More

Properly organizing and storing your financial records can pay off for both yourself and for your survivors, on your death. …More

At any age, illness or injury may cause a catastrophic medical condition and the loss of a patient’s ability to …More

When you set up a trust, it’s a common to name a friend or family member as trustee. This is …More

Many relatively young retirees choose to start receiving Social Security benefits—assuming they are eligible for them—at the earliest possible age …More

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the U.S. National Institutes of …More

A trust can be a vital component in an estate plan. What they offer: * Protection against possible incompetency. To …More

Due to physical or mental reasons or a combination, you may lose the ability to manage your own affairs as …More

Any trust created while the grantor is alive is a “living trust” but the term is often used to describe …More

When you’re developing an estate plan, avoid these common errors: * Don’t give away assets too soon. Youngsters may be …More

If you are concerned about inadequate income over a long retirement, you could consider investing in a variable annuity. * …More

When you draft your will, you should name an executor. It will be up to your executor to handle all …More

You may lose the ability to manage your own affairs as you grow older. Therefore, it’s necessary to have an …More