Think of an estate plan as a love letter to your family after you have passed. You’d be surprised at how many people you know don’t have a will or an estate plan in place. They may be among the many who have an unspoken belief that if they don’t…
While the number of people making New Year’s financial resolutions are on the rise, we would do well to make a midyear financial check a regular part of the summer season. The good news is more than 30% of Americans did give some thought to making financial resolutions this past…
Celebrities without wills provide teachable moments for why “regular folks” need to have wills and estate plans in place. When Prince died, he joined the ranks of multi-millionaire celebrities with a shared legacy of failing to plan for life after they pass away. This group lives on in endless articles…
If you are old enough to drive, work a job and have a bank account, you need to have an estate plan. It’s part of being a responsible adult. Leaving adolescence behind means a life that includes responsibility for yourself and for those you love. That has traditionally included basics…
If you don't believe any friends or family members can serve as your executor, what are your options? A question is raised by a well-to-do husband who is concerned that his wife is not prepared to handle a significant estate if he should predecease her. The couple has no children,…
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…
Despite countless celebrity estate battles, most Americans still put off having a will created. Think of a will as an itinerary for your family that will make their lives easier once you are gone. Prince was clearly busy with performing, writing, recording and creating. But that's still not a good…
One Chief Justice's seemingly simplistic will was the target of a lot of humor. Tongues wagged in Washington that he had utterly failed to do any estate planning. The gossips had it all wrong. It may be surprising to outsiders, but Washington D.C. actually functions in many ways as a…
Once again, the value of image and other intangibles will overshadow any other issue with a celebrity estate that is expected to break earnings records. The countdown on the estate tax liability for Prince's fortune has already begun, but arriving at the final number will not be easy and certainly…
Many young couples choose to hold off on estate planning because they feel they are too young to worry about estate planning and death. Maybe it’s because they think they don’t have enough assets to begin an estate plan or they just don’t want to think about death and what…