If the unthinkable happens, you want to ensure you protect your children's future. Estate planning decisions you make today could impact them forever. One of those important decisions is who you name as the guardian of their estate. The guardian will become the...
Last Updated: April 13, 2020 This posting is made to update the payment due date for the 2nd Quarter 2020 estimated federal tax payment due to the IRS. This payment was originally due on June 15, 2020, but the IRS announced on April 9, 2020 that the due date for this...
You may have an abundance of wealth or you may only live a modest life. No matter your age, marital or financial status, you can benefit from an estate plan. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP,) over 50% of American adults, and 78% of...
As people step firmly into adulthood, they often find both their careers and family life blossoming. This usually means higher income, which in turn leads to more assets – a new house, for example. Along with that often comes the added considerations of caring for...
About three months ago a client, Tami, called me in a panic. I was the agent for her first home purchase a few years ago and we’d become friendly –getting together for a glass of wine every few months. It must have been a while since I’d checked in, because I was...
I spend a lot of time walking clients through the creation of their first will. It is a customized process that I tailor to the needs and family structure of each of my clients, but there are some standard provisions that everyone should consider. When you hire an...
Most of my clients create trusts to prevent the government and creditors from siphoning away their hard-earned assets upon their death. Unfortunately, another real risk to your assets is your beneficiaries, the very people to whom you are so generous. A trust can help...
Once a loved one passes away, his or her assets that are placed in a trust must be distributed according to the trust’s terms. Trust beneficiaries often become impatient waiting for distribution and become angry with the trustee. Many people ask why distribution can...
Silicon Valley is famous for creating its tech-centric vocabulary. But the estate planning vernacular makes tech seem simple. When I see new clients for an initial estate planning session, it often feels like I am a translator working to interpret a foreign language,...
Many people procrastinate over arrangements for the succession of their financial legacy and other estate planning concerns. While concerns about the financial investment needed to create an estate plan might provide a motivation for cheap DIY options, these...