Many people have tens of thousands–even hundreds of thousands–of dollars in their IRAs. If you have an asset that large, shouldn’t you devote more effort to planning for its ultimate disposition? A designated beneficiary is named on a life insurance policy or some type of investment account as the individual(s)…
This time of the year is a great time to revisit your estate plan, so you can ensure your legacy is protected for years to come.” Many of us set New Year’s resolutions to improve our quality of life. While it’s often a goal to exercise more or eat more…
“If you're between 55 and 64, you still have time to boost your retirement savings. Whether you plan to retire early, late, or never ever, having an adequate amount of money saved can make all the difference, both financially and psychologically. Your focus should be on building out—or catching up,…
Asset titling is the sticking point, where many estate plans fail. The best plan can be undone, if assets are not retitled or accounts are not funded. Retitling assets means just that—changing the name of the asset, whether it’s a deed to a home or a name of an insurance…
There was a time when most people had three sources of income in retirement. One was their savings, the second was Social Security and the third was their pension from work. Today, very few workers enjoy the security of a pension, and retirement income is dependent on each person’s ability…
The period before retirement is a time when people dream about what the future might hold. They also worry, because who hasn’t heard the stories about retirees who return to work because they retired too early? It’s no surprise then that little more than half of Americans surveyed by the…
Out-of-date beneficiary designations could completely undo your entire estate plan. It happens often, since people often neglect these ‘fine print’ details. We hope that you have a will to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes after you pass. However, if you are like most Americans, many…
What is the VA Pension Benefit? The Veterans Administration pension program provides monthly tax-free benefit payments to certain wartime Veterans or their surviving spouses who meet the financial and medical requirements. Claimants who are eligible for VA pension may also qualify for supplemental monetary payments, such as housebound or aid…
The burden of saving for retirement shifted from employers to employees. It is now unusual for companies to offer pensions. If you’re lucky enough to have one, make your decisions wisely. It’s hard to imagine today, but years ago, it wasn’t unusual to stay with one company for a lifetime,…
Privacy and a faster resolution to settling estates are just two good reasons to create an estate plan. You really don't have to be a millionaire or famous to create an estate plan, as noted in an article appearing on the Forbes' website, "Prince and Estate Planning: What We Can…