Much like retirement planning should be considered prior to your actual retirement, estate planning should be evaluated before you pass away. On an annual basis, make an appointment with your estate planning attorney. If you’re concerned about other instances that warrant a meeting with a specialist, read on to learn common concerns that should instigate […]

Trying to plan ahead for asset protection can be difficult these days as many people are not aware of the multiple ways in which you can expose yourself to risk down the road. One of the biggest financial risks you may face is divorce, which can ravage your assets and leave you in a much […]

  If you are planning ahead for your estate, it’s possible to pass on assets to your loved ones as well as charity. Read on to learn more about the best ways to gift with charity in mind. In order to do this successfully, you might weigh the tax benefits of giving against the needs […]

Although estate planning advice generally focuses on investments, retirement, and other big-ticket items, it’s important to evaluate your plans for personal property, too. Things like furniture, china, and paintings all fall under the umbrella of personal property. This is critical also because people often have big emotional ties to these items, and this can cause […]

  In 2013, the IRS official sanctioned the use of the Delaware Incomplete Non-Grantor Trust. This provides for lowering the state income tax burden, avoiding the federal gift tax, and providing for asset protection. Often referred to as a DING, this is of most use to high net-worth individuals who have appreciating assets located in […]

  Death or disability can suddenly and negative impact an unprepared business. Even a gradual retirement can hurt the potential for success with continuity and management by successors in the future. That’s where a buy-sell agreement comes into play to help ensure stability and cash flow while the retiree’s buyout was funded.  Sale to a […]

There are two important keys for factoring in healthcare decisions late in life. These are the living will and a healthcare proxy. They not only provide directions for someone’s care, but they also keep decisions from being made in expensive court proceedings.  A living will clarifies a person’s health care decisions, but states do vary […]

While his death happened two years ago, there are plenty of estate planning lessons to be learned from the estate of Sopranos star James Gandolfini. In light of the fact that his death is in the recent past, it’s a good reflection of how long documents and planning tools take to wind through the court […]

  Tax-free savings accounts, which were first introduced in 2009 and still in existence with relatively high contribution limits, provide for the smooth passage of assets upon death. This process, when done properly, also helps individuals avoid probate court. Individuals can pass on to a successor holder (if the other person is a spouse or […]

A recent survey of 513 business owners indicated that more than 400 of them were concerned about the possible implications of a lawsuit or divorce. Despite these broad concerns (which are certainly fair, given the litigious environment we live in and high divorce rates common across the country), only fifteen percent of those surveyed had […]