Think of an estate plan as a love letter to your family after you have passed. You’d be surprised at how many people you know don’t have a will or an estate plan in place. They may be among the many who have an unspoken belief that if they don’t…
The cost of long-term care can take a huge bite out of retirement savings, exhaust family resources and create strain on relationships. Don’t count on Medicare, but do plan in advance. At least seven out of ten Americans age 65 and over will need long-term care at some point. Most…
Passing your home to your heirs can occur in a number of ways, depending upon your situation and your family. It’s not a do-it-yourself project—even in the simplest cases. If you own a home and want to leave it to your loved ones, there are steps you need to take…
Whether or not an aging parent should live with their adult children raises issues for the parent and the children. There is no single or easy answer. It usually starts when one spouse dies and an aging parent suddenly seems alone and vulnerable. The parent may bring it up first,…
A lot of details go into being an executor, and some people find it a thankless task. But knowing that you helped someone you love carry out his or her last wishes holds its own reward. Most people are honored when they learn that they have been named executor of…
Whether on the evening news or a serial drama, we love to watch the inner workings of family businesses—in large part because of the drama and the high likelihood of failure. The narrative of family dynasties is intriguing. According to the Yakima Herald in "Passing the baton: 6 challenges for…
Houston Millennials have a different perspective about love, money and family. Boomers have taught their children well. While nearly three quarters of boomers see a gift of money as an expression of love, according to a recent survey, their children don't see things the same way. These different values have…
Frankly, there is less room for error when a single parent is managing all of the responsibilities of raising a family. Five key planning guidelines are the focus of the Parent Herald's article "5 Financial Planning Tips For Single Parents For Your Family's Protection." Here are the top five most…
The average family can face high expenses when adopting a child. But there are tax benefits that will provide some help, as reported in The Middlesboro (KY) Daily News article, "Thinking of adopting? Be prepared for expenses." Among the benefits are an exclusion from your taxable income of employer-provided adoption…
You can stuff a lot of money into a 529 college savings plan now and then do the same thing at the beginning of 2014 – a strategy that advisers say they are seeing many wealthy clients adopt this year. Funding a 529 College Savings Plan before year-end is a…