Britney Spears five dogs enjoy the same quality of life as she does, but without a pet trust, if anything happened to her, their lavish lifestyle would be at risk. Pet trusts are no longer the exclusive province of the rich and famous, but a recent article in Trust Advisor…
Articles Posted in Asset Protection
Retiring in 2017? Take These Steps Before You Make It Official
Before you tell HR what your final day of work will be, there are more than a few details that you need to cover to prepare for taxes, make the most of any potential benefits and start retirement on the right foot. If there’s a retirement season, it’s spring or…
You May Miss the Estate Tax, but Your State May Have Its Own Death Taxes
Some states are cheaper to die in than others, that is, when it comes to death taxes. The average American doesn’t have to worry too much about paying a federal estate tax, as the current federal estate tax exemption is a generous $5.49 million for 2017 and twice that if…
Strong Trust Planning is Important When One Spouse is Not a U.S. Citizen
With many tech companies, universities and businesses, North Carolina has become home to many resident aliens who contribute greatly to the state’s growth. Estate planning requires special knowledge of non-citizen tax rules. More than $1 billion in annual foreign direct investment gives North Carolina’s private sector employment a huge boost,…
Minus Michael, the Jackson Estate is All Business
Without the spending habits of Michael Jackson and the involvement of members of his inner circle, the Jackson estate has been transformed into an efficient multi-million dollar empire. As it stands now, the only factors that might keep the Michael Jackson money machine from moon-walking into eternity are his heirs.…
Can an Estate Plan Protect an Adult Child with an Addiction or Mental Illness?
When all of your time is spent battling the challenges of mental illness or addiction, it’s hard to imagine what the future will bring. However, that’s exactly why estate planning is so important. It’s not an easy issue to discuss with an estate planning attorney for the first time. However,…
Wrong Answers to Two Misconceptions about Estate Planning
The moment you become a parent, you need a will. The same is true once you acquire any kind of asset that you want to give to someone after you die. It’s really that simple. The reasons why so many people don’t think they need a will fall into a…
Four Decisions at the Heart of Retirement Planning
Are you surprised that such a complex topic can be divided into just four sections? Once these difficult tasks are accomplished, you’ll have some much needed perspective that will help the rest of the process along. According to a recent article in Forbes, “How Much Do You Need To Retire:…
Before You File Your 2016 Taxes, Review These Tax Breaks for the Disabled
There is some kindness in the tax code, especially when it comes to the disabled and their care givers. There are a few tax breaks that are intended to alleviate some of the financial burden. Even when a disabled person is able to work, they or their caregivers must incur…
Savvy Tips for Dealing with an Inheritance
Inheritances by their very nature, create many mixed emotions. While you are grateful for the inheritance, you are grieving, which is a painful experience that impacts decision-making skills. Perhaps the most important thing to know when you are grieving the loss of a loved one and expect to receive an…