The Top 10 Things to Know About Estate Planning
Many people are often confused by Estate Planning. Here is a list of the top things to know about Estate Planning.
Joint Tenancy - Joint Problems
Joint tenancy avoids probate and seems like a simple solution. Howver, adding a joint tenant adds all sorts of unforeseen problems.
Preparing for the Unthinkable
This article recites statistics regarding unexpected tragedies in the United States including heart attack, stroke, and auto accidents. It calls on the reader to establish a Legacy Wealth Plan to be prepared.
The Prime of Life
This article recites the tragic story of Heath Ledger and how he omitted his daughter from his Will.
Death and Tragedy
The article looks at the tragedy of family disputes and how to avoid them.
A Plan by Design or by Telephone?
The article looks at the game of "Telephone" and how transmitting your legacy in this manner is likely to result in error.
Special Needs Trusts and Autism
Autism is on the rise. You want to leave assets to your child without jeopardizing the availability of public benefits. A Special Needs Trust can help. This article explains how.
Legacy Planning: A Holistic Approach
This article looks at the latest developments in estate planning: "Legacy Planning." Legacy Planning focuses on the values and guidance to be relayed to future generations, not just wealth. The article discusses The Family Wealth Trust and its two subtrusts, the Family Access Trust and the Family Sentry Trust and how they can protect the beneficiaries from divorce and creditors.
What's Important in Your Life?
This article looks at what's important in life: family, friends, and values. The article looks at tragedies in our lives and how we always come back to what's important in life. The article then transitions to a discussion of Legacy Planning. The article discusses the Family Wealth Trust, the Family Access Trust, and how they may be used as part of Legacy Planning to protect the children after you are gone.
Planning for Unforeseen Circumstances
The article examines the importance of drafting flexibility into your estate plan to adjust for changes in values, circumstances, and interests.
Do You Know Who Your Beneficiaries Are?
The article looks at several types of items that pass outside a Will or Trust. In particular, it examines retirement beneficiary designations and new rules by Vanguard Group which might have disastrous results for the unaware.
Three Myths Women Have About Estate Planning
This article looks at several myths women have about estate planning. It includes some statistics that show why estate planning has more impact on women.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...
This article looks at the factors people consider when making estate planning decisions.
To My Dog, Lucky, I Leave $10,000
The article examines the use of "pet trusts" and a few examples of how pets were provided for in the past.
What are the Odds
This article examines the need to plan for the unexpected. It gives statistics for the odds of disability and of death from various likely and unlikely causes. It shows the importance to plan for the one certainty in life, i.e., death.
Learn from Anna Nicole's Mistakes
The article examines Anna Nicole's Will and that she did not update it upon major changes in her life: death of a son, birth of a daughter, commitment ceremony to Howard K. Stern. It suggests that the reader learn from these mistakes and be sure to update their plan periodically.
The Choice Is Yours: Don't Lose Your Chance to Make It
The article examines two cases: Terri Schiavo and Sarah Scantlin. Neither expressed their end of life decisions. Terri had her feeding tube removed after 15 years. Sarah awoke from her coma after 20 years. The article calls the reader to express their own desires in a Living Will.
How to Leave a Mess to Your Heirs
This article examines several common mistakes that create a mess for heirs: Lifetime Transactions without counsel (such as adding people on title to realty), Failure to Plan, and Failure to Communicate. The article poses the problem and then offers a solution to each.
Estate Planning is Simple....Right?
This article examines clients' preconception that estate planning is simple and that it's just simple word processing. The article examines situations in which the estate planner's experience and technical knowledge comes into play.
New Flexibilities for Partners, Children, and Others
The article examines the new "non-spousal rollover" provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
Top 10 Reasons for Periodic Estate Planning Review
Some people think that estate planning is a once in a lifetime project. But, as John F. Kennedy said, "change is the law of life." Periodic review of an estate plan is essential to ensure that your plan continues to accomplish your goals in the most effective manner.
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