Choosing whether assisted living would be the right option can be a complex decision requiring a dispassionate evaluation of the situation and careful consideration. The challenges of helping an aging parent plan for their late-in-life care can be strenuous. There are financial, medical and even emotional aspects of this type…
Death of the borrower triggers the loan payoff, but the estate and heirs will never owe more than what the home is worth. Family homes are unique assets. And like many assets, family homes can be as complicated as they are meaningful. Even when heirs inherit a home with no…
Estate freezing, under the right circumstances, can become a vital component of an intelligent wealth preservation strategy. A “frozen asset” can be viewed as an investment that refuses to move with the market. Fewer things are more annoying to a savvy investor! If an investment isn't growing, what is the…
"Understanding that AD may contribute to almost as many deaths as the two leading killers in America, heart disease and cancer, is an eye-opening figure that may convince the public and policy makers that AD funding should be increased," James said. As you plan for old age, and even while…
Suzanne M. Cheney performed many services for her stepfather, Anthony R. Turco, expecting to receive a share of his estate. However, to her great disappointment, he left her nothing. There is a difference between care given out of responsibility and that given out of expectation of payment. Similarly, there is…
A no-contest clause may be a good idea if you have a beneficiary who may be upset by the property distributed to him or her. Consider this common estate plan predicament: you are drafting a will and know that if it is challenged by a spurned heir or for anyone…
The buyers and the sellers couldn’t agree on how much the company was worth. A business is essentially an asset, but assigning a value to this type of asset tends to be very complex. If your retirement plan (and maybe your estate plan for your heirs) relies upon the business,…
When it comes to estate planning, one of the primary goals is to transfer as much of a person's assets to their intended beneficiaries at the lowest cost or, in other words, by paying the least amount of tax. Giving your assets to your heirs is all about timing. When…
One of the most common themes among my affluent clients is a desire to see their children make it on their own. Over 90% of these clients are first-generation wealth builders, meaning they didn’t inherit their money but accumulated it from saving, investing or building a business. They value hard work…
Under the President’s plan, in 2018 the tax would revert to the rates that were in effect in 2009. Budget buzz is spreading across Capitol Hill. For example, did you know that President Obama's proposed budget is seeking a reduction of the estate tax exemption back to $3.5 million? Just…