"The costliest errors are ones we make ourselves, often without realizing how much damage we're doing." "Estate planning is intertwined with the financial plan," a newsmax.com article explained, and it’s no secret that many individuals fail to prepare for retirement. When doing an estate plan, the article offers some sound…
Houston Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney Blog
Are Houston Boomers Neglecting Their Estate Planning?
"If you are looking at Baby Boomers, they are looking at what their cash flow will be in retirement," says Carol Kroch, managing director, wealth and philanthropic planning at Wilmington Trust in Wilmington, Del. "Can they do the things they want to do? Can they retire? Can they keep the…
Retirement Planning Mishaps Can Impact Houston Seniors
Here are a few of the most common mistakes we’ve seen seniors make in regard to their retirement planning. Sometimes knowing what NOT to do is just as important as knowing what to do. So it is with retirement planning. Physician’s Money Digest lists some of the most common mistakes…
Does Your Houston Estate Plan Need a Charitable Remainder Trust?
When Detroit businessman Dick E. Morand died in 1977, he ensured that his estate would continue giving for decades after his death via a charitable remainder trust. Morand died at the age of 87. He was founder and owner of D.E. Machinery Company and was vice president of Addy-Morand Machinery…
What Lessons Learned from Fox’s “Empire?”
Empire is based on fictitious music company called Empire Enterprises. Lead character Lucious Lyon (played by actor Terrence Howard) is racing to name a successor for his company after learning he has months to live due to an ALS diagnosis. His sons Jamal, Hakeem, and Andre duke it out to…
Retirement Planning Issues for Small Business Owners
Now is the time for small business owners to evaluate their year-end retirement planning while building a retirement budget line item for next year. A recent article in The (Great Falls MT) Prairie Star, titled “Review estate, tax and retirement planning issues now,” argues that a farm or ranch operation…
Death and Debts: What Can You Do?
Sometimes, a loved one’s estate may include debt. Do you know what to do should if you are the spouse or heir that inherits debt? If you aren’t sure what to do with a loved one’s debts after they pass – or what to tell others to do with your…
Oregon Leading Charge On Elder Abuse Awareness
As the nation's senior population grows, elder abuse complaints increase as well. The Oregon Department of Justice's Criminal Justice Division is addressing the increasing elder abuse claims by proposing an elder abuse resource prosecutor be added to the staff. Undoubtedly, other states may be adding similar positions as the awareness…
Paper Stocks – What Did Ronald Read Teach Investors?
Individual investor Ronald Read has made the news because his personal investing strategy relied heavily on paper stock certificates. Today, investment advisors encourage individual investors to convert stock certificates to electronic form and consolidate stocks with a professionals so that heirs will have an accurate record of ownership. In addition…
It’s National Healthcare Decisions Day! Do You Have Your Advance Directives?
April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). And now that you’ve met the big deadline for filing your tax return, it's a great time to turn your attention to ensuring that your estate planning documents are in place, beginning with your own advance directives. Everyone needs current and valid…