Happy International Women’s Day
Happy International Women's Day! Here are some food for thought… “Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” –Unknown “Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.” –Hillary Clinton “To tell a woman everything she cannot do is to
Do I Need an Attorney to Settle an Estate at Death?
Do I Need an Attorney to Settle an Estate at Death? MAYBE NOT IF… The family situation is uncomplicated (never divorced or re-married, few beneficiaries who are competent adults) And… everyone gets along And… the assets of the estate are straightforward (accounts are consolidated, there are no tax-deferred assets to sort
Choosing a Tax Preparer
It's important to trust your tax preparer has the expertise and discretion to handle your most personal details - income, social security numbers, marriage, children. Make sure your tax preparer is a professional and is set up to assist you whenever and however needed.
5 Estate Planning Potholes to Avoid
Many people believe that they should leave their assets to their children equally. In some cases, it works, but there are some where it doesn’t. Consider each child individually and plan to give them what they need. As the song goes, “You don’t always get what you want, but sometimes,
5 Things to Ask When Choosing an Attorney for a Special Needs Trust
If you have special needs beneficiaries, you have extra considerations when setting up your estate plan: how can you make sure that assets are there for your son or daughter, without affecting the benefits they rely on? Many attorneys, while they may be well versed in general estate planning knowledge,
February is American Heart Month
February is the official American Heart Month, putting a spotlight on steps we all need to take to avoid a stroke or heart attack. Every day, more than 2,200 Americans die of heart disease - that’s one death every 39 seconds - and strokes are responsible for one death every
What to Keep and What to Shred
Our clients often ask which records they should keep for what period of time. Some have every bill they ever paid. Some keep nothing. Most of us are somewhere in between, with documents spread in piles all around the house, on the coffee table, home office, safe and safety deposit
What’s the Difference Between a Will and a Trust?
Many people think that Wills and Trusts are the same thing. Nothing could be further from the truth. While there are similarities, there are some very important differences. A Will is a very basic document that simply expresses the wishes of the deceased to the Probate Court. It does not avoid
The Problem with PODs or Why “POD” Doesn’t Solve All of Your Estate Planning Problems
When you set up a financial account, such as a checking, savings or money market account, you can name a beneficiary for the account using a “Payable on Death”, also known as a POD, designation. The idea is that the bank will pay out the money left in your account
