Without a formal direction, your wishes must be interpreted and your estate must be settled by a probate court judge. The process is expensive and encourages disputes. But divvying up wealth is a whole lot easier than handing your children off to the state to determine where they go and…
If a Loved One or you have an estate plan, or even part of one, then some team members already are on board via the planning process and likely are actively serving or are nominated in the documents. They can have roles in the testamentary will, trusts, business purchase agreement,…
Sixteen states and the District of Columbia levy an estate tax with some taking a bigger piece of your estate than others. For this reason, it is critical to understand which states are going to take more out of your beneficiaries pocket when you die. So which states are the…
When Twisted Sister drummer AJ Pero died on March 20, it caught his fans and bandmates by surprise — and Pero’s own lack of estate planning has reportedly thrown his family into chaos as well. Dee Snider stated in an article on the website ultimateclassicrock.com “not only did AJ Pero…
Below are a few important considerations for estate planning for second (or subsequent) marriages. If you find yourself looking at marriage for the second or third time, you may want to browse over to The Des Moines Register for an article entitled “Estate planning for a second marriage” that discusses…
“I would strongly urge anyone who is offered a lot of money for an alleged short-term loan to be very wary, as it is often a scam and a sure way to lose your hard-earned savings.” Scammed by your own friend? Hey, it can happen. And not always in the…
The House voted last week to repeal the estate tax, a longtime priority of Republicans that also spurred Democratic charges that the GOP is in the pockets of the rich. The 240-179 vote broke down largely on partisan lines, with seven Democrats voting to repeal the estate tax and three…
Coming together at 50-plus is different from getting married in your 20s, particularly when it comes to money. "You've had a lifetime of solidifying your money beliefs" and behaviors, says Janet Stanzak, president of the Financial Planning Association. These are some ways to smooth the transition if you're tying the…
Financial planner Joe Pitzl, 34, says Millennials like himself have a different way of absorbing information than their parents and grandparents, and as a result planners in that age group take a more collaborative approach. As reported in a recent USA Today article, titled “For Millennials goal is financial freedom,”…
Although some couples remain unmarried to protect their estates, that strategy backfires if you end up paying estate taxes. If you choose not to marry, you and your partner need to educate yourselves on your estate planning and retirement options. If you’re married, you’re able to inherit an unlimited amount…