Why Trusts Should Be Part of Your Estate Plan
Trusts have long been a tool for the ultra-wealthy to preserve wealth and pass it down through the generations. However, even those of more modest means may benefit from this powerful estate planning tool.
You Could Be Hit with Penalty for an Early IRA Withdrawal
Most financial experts would agree that it is rarely, if ever, a good idea to take an early withdrawal from a traditional IRA or Roth IRA. This is due in part to the high cost of penalties that can hit an account holder for an early withdrawal (not to mention losing out on years of potential earnings).
What Should I Know about Beneficiary Designations?
Many people have tens of thousands–even hundreds of thousands–of dollars in their IRAs. If you have an asset that large, shouldn’t you devote more effort to planning for its ultimate disposition?
Why Would I Need a Power of Attorney?
A power of attorney is a document that lets you appoint a person or an organization to handle the financial and medical decisions on your behalf, when you are not able to because of sickness or death. The person or the organization is called the attorney-in-fact or the agent. POA is given to someone whom you can trust with your life.
Do Unmarried Couples Need Estate Planning?
Experts say that creating a plan for what happens to your estate — regardless of how meager or massive your assets — is key for unmarried couples who want their commitment to each other protected in the event of death.
Should I Use a Trust to Protect My Children’s Inheritance?
We have approximately $1.5 million in cash and investments, mostly in Certificates of Deposit (CDs). Our mortgage is paid and we have no debt. We have three adult children. Should we put out assets into a trust to better protect them for the future?
Be Aware of Probate
Whether you recently experienced the loss of a loved one or are learning how to best prepare and plan your own estate, you’ve likely come across the term and may be wondering, “What is probate?” It’s important to understand what probate is and how the process works.
When Selecting Beneficiaries Gets Overlooked
If you’ve ever spent time working through your estate plan with a professional, you know how important it is to select and update your beneficiaries. Failing to do so can result in costly mistakes—for you and your loved ones.
Mistakes to Avoid when Planning Estates
Five of the most common mistakes are easy to avoid with the right information and support, as well as a little creativity.
How Do I Plan My Estate with a College-Age Child?
If you have a college-aged child, estate planning is probably the last thing on your mind.
