It’s a problem that most people wish they had: a sudden influx of money, sometimes a lot of money. It can be overwhelming, and the most important thing to do is—nothing, at first. The first thing to do when you are newly flush with money, is take a few deep…
There are many rules about reverse mortgages, including what happens at the end of the mortgage. What if the children decide they want to undo the reverse mortgage and buy out their parents, so the home can be kept in the family? Let’s start by understanding what a reverse mortgage…
Consumers often find themselves with investments with one company, insurance with another, a financial advisor with a third company and one or maybe more banks. Depending upon the asset level, it may make sense to put all of this under one roof. Trust companies provide clients with a variety of…
Being named as an executor is a big responsibility. Before accepting this role, you should understand what the tasks are, and what you need to be careful about to protect yourself. It’s flattering. Someone you know thinks highly enough of you to name you as their executor. That means they…
It’s a hard thing to imagine: what would your life be like, if you were not able to take care of yourself? Not being able to manage your physical or financial needs, drive, leave your home without assistance, or do any of the things that you do now as a…
Once you understand what a will can do, the reason that everyone needs one becomes a lot clearer, especially if you have any minor children or any assets. A will is a legal document used to provide clear and binding instructions on how you want your assets to be distributed…
A fear that children will not be motivated to have careers because of their family’s wealth is a concern. However, in the long run, it can hamper how wealth is handled by the next generation. In a perfect world, discussing a family’s legacy should be a process that begins when…
There are different types of property. What we informally call real estate, is known in the law as “real property.” That includes any property that is made of land and any structure that sits on it. That also can include assets that appear on that piece of land, like crops,…
It’s easy to focus most of the estate planning attention on the will and distribution of assets. However, a power of attorney is often as important as a will. Naming a person to take on the role of Power of Attorney is not easy. For some families, it can hang…
Benefits for Social Security survivor children’s benefits are generally made out to a parent or guardian. They are taxable income, but most children do not have enough income to owe taxes on the benefits. According to a recent article “Are Social Security survivor benefits for children considered taxable income?” from…