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?
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?
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.
What’s Everything I Need to Know About Wills?
Here’s everything you need to know about writing your will.
Can I Add an Adult Daughter to the Title of a Home?
I have a house with a mortgage that I purchased a little over a year ago. At the closing, I asked if I could put my daughter on the deed with me. However, the mortgage company wouldn’t allow it. I don’t want her to have to go through probate, because this is my only asset. Is there a way I can leave the house to her, so she can sell it and pay off the mortgage?
If I’m 35, Do I Need a Will?
It’s never too early to start estate planning. If you already have a family, getting your personal affairs in order is a must. The sooner you start planning, the more prepared you will be for life’s unexpected twists and turns.
Fixing an Estate Plan Mistake
Sometimes, despite best intentions and best efforts, an estate plan leaves unintended problems for heirs, trustees and others to solve. For example, a trust may have become outdated because of changes in tax laws, the birth or death of family members, or special circumstances like an heir’s disability.
Why It Is So Important to Have an Advance Health Care Directive
Around two-thirds of all Americans have not prepared a health care directive, according to a December 13, 2019 article written by a personal finance specialist at Forbes. The author noted the irony of this figure, pointing out that California was the first US state to enact a law regarding health care directives back in 1976.