How to Create a Pet Trust
There is no doubt we are a nation of pet lovers. Unfortunately, the law as it is currently written views pets as property, so providing for your pet in your will won’t work. So how do you protect your favorite…
Category Estate Planning
How to Correctly Name Beneficiaries for Your IRAs
You could be unintentionally reducing your family’s wealth potential if you do not properly designate the beneficiaries of your IRAs. Improper estate planning could mean that your IRA assets could pass to the wrong people or entities, so how you…
What to Do When You Inherit a Retirement Account
As a Family Wealth Lawyer, I’m often asked to help people who inherit a retirement account. The action you need to take with an inherited IRA depends upon your unique situation; the IRS has rules for each and recently announced…
What a Will Won’t Do
There are a number of essential things a last will and testament can do for you, such as distribute family heirlooms and name a guardian for minor children, but there are some equally important things a will won’t do: Diminish…
Estate Planning for the Blended Family
Balancing the needs of a multi-generational blended family with your own wishes can be a complicated task, especially when it comes to estate planning. With a majority of Americans not only marrying once, but twice, three or even four times…
How to Protect Your Assets from a Child’s Divorce
A child’s wedding day is one of the happiest occasions in life for most parents, especially when they approve wholeheartedly of that child’s choice of mate. Sometimes, however, the choice is not always welcomed, and parents become concerned about how…
7 Reasons to Consider a Trust for Your Family
Do you consider trusts to be instruments of the wealthy? While it is true that many Americans of means have trusts to protect and pass their wealth, there are a number of reasons why trusts can also be useful for…
How to Protect Elderly Parents from Financial Abuse
How to Protect Elderly Parents From Financial Abuse According to a recent study by the Investor Protection Trust and Investor Protection Institute, the top three ways that the elderly could be financially exploited are: Theft of funds or property by…
Retirement Planning Guidelines for Every Age
You’re never too young or too old to save for retirement. Here are some guidelines by age group: Under 25: If you graduated from college with debt, you’re certainly not alone – the average debt burden is currently $26,500 for…
Longevity Insurance Can Help Those Worried About Outliving Their Money
With longer life spans comes the necessity to be sure your money is around at least as long as you are. Longevity insurance – where you pay a certain sum to an insurer when you’re in your 60s in exchange…