Insights

While it can be easy for people to back-burner estate planning due to busy schedules or thinking they have plenty of time to get around to it, doing so can result in property and financial assets passing to unintended heirs in unintentional ways. Without the proper planning, your heirs coul …

Are you one of the many Americans who don’t have an estate plan? No matter how few or how many assets you have, an estate plan can help you preserve your legacy and provide clarity to your surviving family.   If you’re not sure where to begin, our estate planning checklist can help you get  …

Giving something you own to someone else. It’s a simple, human act – one that seems like it shouldn’t take too much planning to do it correctly. But when does gifting become a tax issue? What do you need to consider about gifting as it relates to your overall estate plan?

Have you thought about your legacy? We highly recommend that you appoint a trusted family member or friend as your power of attorney (POA), giving them the ability to help with your financial or health needs, should an unfortunate event occur in your life.

Sarah Duey   I once had clients with only one daughter. They created a living trust for only their grandchild without ever telling their daughter why.   As the trustees, we worked with this daughter, because her child was still a minor. There were hard feelings — a lot of wondering why her …

Many of us think we don’t have enough assets for a will to be necessary, or we’ve simply put it in the “I’ll get to it” category. But planning carefully now can save your beneficiaries from legal fees, tax losses and the ugly relational stress that comes up all too often in the estate process. 

Estate planning, no matter how large or simple your assets, is a conversation everyone should have. From dividing up gigantic bank accounts to choosing the music for a funeral, putting a plan in place can keep a lot of stress and family tension from reaching fever pitch.