The end of the year is a great time to consider making a contribution to a cause that is meaningful to you. Along with potential tax benefits, there is the enjoyment that comes from making a positive difference and helping the organization of your choice. Is the holiday spirit prompting…
Taken all together, these steps might seem overwhelming. But if you do one task each day, you can really change your financial life by year-end. Is it too late in the year to get your finances ironed out? Fortunately, a recent article from kjrh.com, titled “7 financial steps to take…
Yes, nobody relishes thinking about the day when they will no longer be around. But with a little effort and foresight, you can give your family the ultimate gift: a piece of mind. Here's a quick checklist of estate planning essentials. Not really ready for an estate planning talk around…
"There are no 'do-overs' after you agree to a settlement," says Vickie Adams, a certified financial planner and certified divorce finance analyst in San Pedro, Calif. "After 50, you'll have fewer years to recoup from financial errors, so it's essential to get this right." Here are a few tips for…
Have a plan; either you decide or someone else does. Year-end is a great time to evaluate your estate planning goals! This timely topic was the theme of a recent article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette titled "Holiday season is the best time to update your estate planning." Here are…
Leave it to Beaver? Or do you prefer to leave your estate to someone else? Today’s families are a lot different than Ward and June Cleaver. There are more families today with non-traditional situations than ever before. This makes financial and estate planning all the more important. If your family…
“Why do we care about these perpetual trusts?” Mr. Sitkoff said. “Because there’s a lot of money in them. Billions of dollars is pouring into these jurisdictions.” Perpetual trusts: good or bad? The principle of this tool is up for debate. Perpetual trusts allow trust creators to maintain some control…
Irrevocable trusts, which are virtually unchangeable once established, have decreased in use, but revocable trusts, over which the grantor retains control, still flourish. A recent Cincinnati.com article, titled “Trusts remain useful tool in estate planning,” addressed some confusion over the use of trusts in light of recent changes in the…
By keeping even modest sums of money protected, trusts can ensure that your wishes for your money will be honored into the future. A recent article by the Motley Fool,titled "5 Things You Didn't Know — but Should! — About Trusts," sheds some light on common misperceptions of trusts. Here…
Managing an estate can be complicated and overwhelming, but libraries can often be sources of hidden value, and thus should not be ignored. There's always a chance that tucked away in that library are a few rare first editions or hard-to-find antique items. But if you're facing hundreds of volumes…