Many adult children are now looking to step in and help their elderly loved ones with managing illness or disability. This requires a lot of adjustment, not just on the part of the caregiver but on the part of the person receiving support as well. A family member who needs support may cause sudden and […]

The opioid crisis has significantly affected many families across the country. The growing epidemic of addiction is also changing the need for estate planning. Addiction statistics show that more than 142 Americans die each day from a drug overdose. It’s also anticipated that more than 650,000 people will die over the next decade from opioid […]

  Far too many people put off the estate planning process for way too long and end up leaving behind a mess for their children. This can be literally, legally or financially.   The literal type of mess is the cluttered house, when the adult child must step in to clean out a house of […]

Passing things on to future generations is a common concern for many people interested in protecting their loved ones, but for a meaningful gift this holiday season, you might choose to establish an estate plan or contribute to a child’s 529 college savings account.  When you are thinking about the future of your loved ones, […]

Most people already know that their last will and testament is the cornerstone of their financial and estate plan. However, many consumers don’t have this critical document in place. A 2014 American Journal of Preventive Medicine study found that up to three quarters of Americans don’t even have a health care proxy, an advanced directive […]

A recent study found that three out of ten state securities regulators have seen an increase in elder fraud complaints and cases. Many people are under the impression that it is only cognitively affected older individuals who are at risk for financial scams. However, one out of every 18 cognitively intact elderly people can fall […]

Most people looking ahead to retirement are at least considering moving to another state, if only to be closer to family, maximize their retirement dollars or enjoy better weather. But you need to remember that when you establish estate planning documents in one state, the rules of another state could influence how they are managed.  […]

The composition of your retirement portfolio affects your ability to support your lifestyle after you retire as well as what you can give away to loved ones.  Many financial managers have recently found that retirees’ assets are in pre-tax accounts, also known as qualified plans. However, this has an additional consequence when it’s time to […]

  Trust arrangements established by the Playboy founder, Hugh Hefner, may enable his third wife to receive income without technically inheriting anything from the estate. He left behind a major estate valued at more than $40 million and that doesn’t even include the $100 million sale of his Playboy mansion that happened last August.  His […]

  Establishing a trust in conjunction with the development of your will is frequently the cornerstone of a person’s estate plan. However, you shouldn’t think that your work is done after you’ve created the trust. This is a crucial first step that should be completed with the guidance of an estate planning attorney but many […]