Last week, we discussed the importance of planning for your funeral and making sure your final wishes are known. Even when you do write everything down, who is going to be in charge of the funeral? For example, let’s say …
Articles
Disability Easier With Trusts
You finally have decided to get your estate planning documents in place. However, you haven’t decided to get a trust, or settle for a will with financial and healthcare powers of attorney. You are not alone. Many people debate whether …
Planning for Unexpected Events
You may think of estate planning as death planning, but it is much more than that. Estate planning includes lifetime planning. The first component of estate planning is: I want to control my property while I am alive and well. …
The Stuff People Fight Over
You may have that special ring that you want your daughter to have after yo are gone. Or you may have Grandma’s antique bureau that your son has always admired. You may want Auntie’s antique silver tea set to go …
Indecision No Excuse for Not Planning
If you are like 70% of adults in Michigan, you have done no estate planning. You have not prepared a will, trust or financial or health care powers of attorney. The big question is: Why not? One reason you may …
Collections
You have spent the better part of the last fifty years collecting stuff. It may be baseball cards, Coca Cola memorabilia, dolls, classic cars, Cybis figurines, coins or it could be post cards and books. What will happen to your …
Protecting Unmarrieds Shackup Agreement
You and your partner have been living together for years, maybe even decades. You have a committed relationship that may even have been blessed by your church, but for a variety of reasons, you will not be married. It could …
Roth IRAs
It’s not too late to make IRA contributions for 2013. If you make a qualifying IRA contribution before April 15, 2014, you can elect to report it on your 2013 or 2014 individual income tax return. You can contribute up …
Financial Literacy and Aging
It’s a fact of life. As you age, your physiological systems slow down. You probably notice the physical indications of this every day. You do not go up and down the stairs as easily as you used to. It is …
Medicaid and Your Home
You or your spouse is in a nursing home. You were told, incorrectly, that you had to spend down your assets on nursing home care except for your home, and you did. Will you be able to keep your home? …