With the number of late in life marriages among older Americans on the rise, it is best to address financial, legal and blended family issues before walking down the aisle. We Americans like to be married. So much so that, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, about a third of…
Articles Posted in Life Insurance
Best Time to Start on a Succession Plan? The Day You Start Your Business
It may sound whimsical, but the moment you open a business is also the time to start thinking about how you’ll exit the business, whether you intend to sell to a partner, leave the entire business to a family member or sell as soon as you come up with the…
How Long Does It Take to Get a Payment from a Life Insurance Policy?
Most life insurance companies are quite efficient. However, you will need the right documents. One of the basic tasks that follow the loss of a spouse or family member is figuring out what life insurance policies were in place and contacting the insurance company or companies to find out how…
Estate Planning 101: Check Your Beneficiary Designations
Unless you really want to give your ex the proceeds of your life insurance or 401(k), it is best to take the time to do this one task. If you haven’t looked at the paperwork for your life insurance policies, bank accounts, retirement accounts, investment accounts and any other asset…
How are 401(k)s and IRAs Different?
New regulations from the Department of Labor may come into play for Americans deciding which type of account is best for their retirement savings. There are significant differences between 401(k)s and IRAs, and as reported in a recent post on wjbf.com, “Advantages and disadvantages to a 401k and an IRA,”…
Must-Do Retirement Planning Principles
In the best of all possible worlds, your retirement finances include a nest egg that generates a steady flow of income while your principal assets continue to grow. There are six key investment points that, if you can meet them, will make retirement finances work in your favor, according to…
Why “Regular Folks” Need an Estate Plan
An estate plan does a lot more than distribute your assets among family members and organizations that share your values. It also protects you and your loved ones. That’s why everyone needs an estate plan, especially if you have minor children. It’s amazing that some people still think they don’t…
A Checklist for Post-Funeral Tasks
There are a number of tasks that need to be done after a loved one passes. A Houston estate planning attorney can help make these tasks easier. Most people don’t know that there is a time limit on certain tasks that need occur after someone passes away. According to WXYZ…
Collecting Death Benefits from Life Insurance Policies
If you are the beneficiary of someone’s life insurance policy, you should know that there are options as to how the policy funds, known as death benefits, can be distributed. In most situations, the beneficiary of a life insurance policy does not have to pay income taxes on death benefits,…
Make Sure Your Divorce Degree Aligns with Your Estate Plan and Vice Versa
Forget to make these changes and your heirs may never forgive you. Forget to align these documents, and your estate planning attorney will never forget you. Once the process of legally ending your marriage begins, you will need to make sure that your own interests are protected and that includes…