The New Year is a great time to regroup on your financial plans, reevaluate and/or create new financial goals. By sticking to your financial resolutions throughout the year, you can keep on track towards achieving your financial objectives in 2015 and beyond. Make the New Year a happy one by…
Couples planning to blend families often have to make financial arrangements that respect previous relationships with ex-spouses and their families. Issues range from childcare and eldercare to potentially complex matters involving businesses, investment assets and real estate. That’s why involving trained experts in stepfamily financial planning is a must. Blending…
Create a file that you name sometime like "ICE," which stands for “in case of emergency.” Some people call this their “grab-and-go” file, since that’s what it’s for. Make sure that anyone who needs to have this information knows how to access it. For example, if you have to leave…
Three estate planning questions to ask your parents right now. Caring for aging parents poses many questions, some of which you want to get out of the way early on. A recent article in The Oprah Magazine,titled“Sanity-Saving Secrets For Caring For Your Aging Parents,” suggests three questions to ask your…
We asked experts to let us in on a few resources most people overlook. Need more cash to help care for mom and dad? A recent Oprah Magazine article, titled “Sanity-Saving Secrets For Caring For Your Aging Parents,” has some ideas where to look for funds to support your…
If history is a guide, this coming week nearly half of us will make resolutions seeking to improve some facet of our lives, many of which will be focused on personal finance. If one of your goals for the New Year is to get your financial life in order, here…
The Journal has consulted several local professionals with expertise in various financially related realms. We asked each for tips readers can take with them into 2015. As we enter 2015, many Americans will start to shift gears to tax season and filing their 2014 tax returns. Just make sure you are aware…
Make a detailed plan for the home's future to avoid family feuds down the road. Many memories are made in family vacation homes, and a lot of families do not want those traditions to end when a loved one passes. However, experts say you need to be careful in planning…
In all likelihood, [film director] Nichols had a "revocable living trust," that contained the dispositive provisions of his estate so that his wishes were shielded from the public. Celebrities and high-profile estates tend to be a hot topic in the media, but sometimes the media doesn't get the full story.…
Wouldn’t knowing someone will step in if you become incapacitated create a little peace of mind? Wouldn’t knowing that your family is taken care of create even more peace of mind? Wouldn’t knowing there is a plan in place – a plan you developed – if something happens to you…