Estate Planning Facts for the Holiday Season
Every year around the holidays, stores and malls across America are transformed into winter wonderlands, complete with elves, ornaments, artificial snow, and larger-than-life decorations. Many children stare in wide-eyed wonder […]
National Regifting Day: Regifting for Your Future
During the holidays, we usually receive at least one gift that, let’s face it, falls a bit flat. When we were young, it might have been an itchy sweater from […]
12 Estate Planning Steps to Take This Holiday Season
“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.” —The Twelve Days of Christmas A partridge in a pear tree? Lords […]
When a Trustee Becomes a Burden: Knowing When to Fire Them
Serving as a trustee of a trust carries significant responsibility and duty not just to you as the trust’s creator but also to the beneficiaries who depend on accurate, faithful administration.
The True Cost of Inheriting a Home
While a house can be a generous gift that might seem like a windfall, the financial and practical realities of owning a home can quickly turn that gift into a burden for heirs who are not fully prepared.
How to Make Your Inheritance Last
The initial mix of excitement and grief when receiving an inheritance can lead to impulsive financial decisions. One of the most important steps you can take is to resist the urge to immediately make significant decisions.
How a Directed Trust Can Change Everything
The estate planning world, long rooted in tradition, has relied on time-tested tools such as trusts to plan for what happens to a person’s money and property. However, a nontraditional variation known as a directed trust has gained traction in recent years for offering today’s families more of what they want: customization, control, and flexibility.
Estate Planning Truths: Debunking Common Misconceptions
From who can make decisions for you to whether you need an estate plan, common myths can stand between you and a secure future. Let’s debunk these widespread misconceptions and reveal four essential truths about effective estate planning.
Do I Need a Will or a Trust?
Everyone needs a will, a trust, or both. These important tools ensure that your legacy will be carried out according to your wishes and allow you to provide for loved ones after your passing. A properly prepared trust can also help avoid probate.
Why a Trust for Your Child Should Mature with Your Child
Like your living, breathing child, the trust you create for them must grow as they do. It should be a flexible, evolving legal tool that matures alongside them, from first steps to first jobs, from childhood to adulthood. You may not always be there, but with the right trust setup and thoughtful updates, your care and protection can be.