Who Needs an Estate Plan?
If you are reading this, you need an estate plan. Why? The short answer is that everyone age 18 and older needs an estate plan. It does not matter whether ...
Handling a Loved One’s Debts After They Die
Americans are, quite literally, getting buried in debt, with nearly half expecting to pass away with outstanding debts.1 As a general rule, a person’s debts do not go away when ...
Estate Planning for Collectors and Hobbyists
Americans often prefer to stay busy. When we are not working, many of us turn to hobbies to keep us engaged and productive. We spend hours each day on our ...
Does Your Revocable Living Trust Reduce Your Federal Estate Tax Bill?
Many believe that once they set up and fund a revocable living trust, property held in the trust will completely avoid federal estate taxes after they die. In reality, a ...
Estate Planning Basics for Newlyweds: How to Prepare for the Unexpected
Getting married is a special time in your life; you may have a beautiful wedding, a fun reception (with a delicious cake and special gifts), and a romantic honeymoon. It ...
Four Steps to Stop Mail Addressed to a Deceased Person
Once you have been appointed the executor or personal representative of a deceased loved one’s probate estate, or when you step in as the successor trustee of the loved one’s ...
HIPAA: An Overview for Young Adults
The Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was enacted to provide guidelines to the healthcare industry for protecting patient information and preserving privacy. This is usually ...
First Step in Adulthood: Choosing the Right Decision-Makers
Being an adult comes with freedom and responsibility. You can now make important decisions on your own without consulting your parents or guardians. While this may feel incredibly liberating, it ...
Be Careful Relying on Life Insurance to Provide for Loved Ones
In an estate plan, life insurance can be used as a source of immediate liquidity for beneficiaries by offering a tax-free, lump-sum payment upon the insured’s death. About half of ...
Enriching Life with a Third-Party Special Needs Trust
A special needs trust (SNT) allows an individual to provide for a beneficiary without jeopardizing the beneficiary’s eligibility for needs-based government benefits. SNT funds can generally be used to pay ...