Last week we discussed powers of attorney and although they are generally lifetime documents, some powers can be effective after death. A properly drafted financial power of attorney is an essential tool in the estate planner’s toolbelt. However, …
Articles
Powers of Attorney Good for Life and Beyond
In estate planning, there are documents that are useable during your lifetime, documents that are only useable after death, and documents that are useable both during your lifetime and after your death. And people get them confused all the …
Top six estate planning mistakes
I have been drafting and reviewing wills, trusts, powers of attorney and other estate planning documents for more than 32 years. This week, we will be discussing the top six estate planning mistakes that I have seen while drafting and/or …
Invest in what you know and understand
Are you confused by all the terminology that is being tossed around in the financial and investing community? If so, today’s column should assist with clarifying some of the baffling language. When it comes to investing, you should stick to …
How to Make a Graceful Exit
When you came in to this world, you came in kicking and screaming, hopefully. You also came in with nothing, not even with any clothes on your back. Now you have a lot more stuff. How do you want …
Estate Planning Legal Fees
You have done your estate plan. You have a will, financial and health care powers of attorney and maybe even a trust. You know how much it cost to set it up, but did you ever think about the overall …
Caring for your Senior Self
Are you over age 60? Many studies have found a measurable slow-down in physiological systems, both physical and mental, after age 60. Studies have also shown that seniors often believe that they are doing things as well or better than …
Pay for Long-Term Care Expenses with Life Insurance
Do you have long-term care insurance? If so, has your premium stayed the same, or increased? If you do not have long-term care insurance, have you decided against it because of the cost? Or maybe you never got around …
The Taxation of Annuities
You have put your hard earned assets in one or more annuities. Do you how your money is taxed when you take it out of the annuity? Do you know how annuity withdrawals are taxed to your beneficiaries after …
The Parts of Medicaid
Tomorrow October 15, 2018 starts the Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period. Now is a good time to learn more about and better understand Medicare. You have been seeing a lot of Medicare advertising recently. Most all of the …