If you are like the majority of people in America, you have done no estate planning. This means you do not have a signed will. Just because you do not have a signed will, does not mean you do not …
Articles
Simplify Your Life
Preparing for your estate plan can be a lot of work. Not only do you have to decide who is going to do what when, you have to organize your affairs, so they can. To properly prepare your estate plan, …
Incapacity and Financial Powers of Attorney
Have you ever thought about what would happen to your real estate, bank accounts, investments and other property (your “stuff”) if you could not take care of them because of your mental disability due to an accident, illness or injury? …
Essential Estate Planning Documents
It has been a couple of years since I have discussed estate planning basics. Today’s column will be a refresher course. You may think of estate planning as only death planning. However, estate planning also includes lifetime planning in the …
How To Select an Estate Planning Attorney
Finding the right attorney to plan your estate can be a significant challenge. It may be the first contact that you will ever have with an attorney. What qualities should you look for in an estate planning attorney? Do not …
Planning for Second Marriages Can be Tricky
You may have been widowed or divorced, so you are now in a second or even third marriage. You and your spouse both came to the marriage with your own separate property. However, you also may have property that you …
Nov Savvy Financial Moves at Fifty
When you reach fifty, if you are like many others your age, you look at things a little differently. You are now on the downside of life. You likely have more years behind you than ahead of you. Retirement, which …
Half a Loaf is Better than None
Last week, we discussed your financial options when you are married and one of you is in a nursing home. Medicaid rules are very different when you are both in a nursing home or you are single and in a …
Helping Kids to Be Helpless
You love your children. You do not like to see them struggle or have a difficult time with life. Your parenting instincts kick in and you just want to help them out. You bail them out, again and again. But …
Medicare Alphabet Soup
If you are over the age of 65, you usually will have a red, white and blue Medicare card. However, do you understand the alphabet soup of Medicare Parts A, B, C and D? The original Medicare, and prior to …