If you’re wondering how much estate planning costs, you are not alone. In fact, it is quite common for people to ask, How much does estate planning cost? While there’s no simple answer to this question, there are certain things you can take into consideration to better determine what your estate plan might cost. When you have questions about...
Continue ReadingSurely you’ve heard the term “probate”– but for most people it may sound like an alien term. What is it? And why does it seem like people want to avoid it? PROBATE is, according to Merriam-Webster, the action or process of proving before a competent judicial authority that a document offered for official recognition and registration as the last will...
Continue ReadingIf you’re going through the big D and it doesn’t mean Dallas, there’s understandably a lot on your mind and your proverbial plate. Whether you’ve been with someone one year or 25, divorce can put an immense amount of stress on an individual for several reasons including the financial details that need to be taken care of in order...
Continue ReadingAs anyone with a special needs person in their life might already know, there are a lot of details and things that need to be done in order to protect and care for your loved one in the best way possible. If you happen to have a loved one with special needs and you don’t have a Special Needs...
Continue ReadingA living trust is becoming more and more popular for those who are realizing a will alone will not save them or their families from expensive legal proceedings or probate. The popularity of these trusts is a good thing, protecting people and assets around the country. However, many people wonder if it is necessary to hire a lawyer to...
Continue ReadingIn 2018, more and more couples are starting non-traditional families, or buying homes together before they are married. It’s extremely common for most unmarried couples to accumulate shared property, but less common to consider how the property will be dealt with in the event of the end of the relationship, or more dire circumstances. It isn’t just a matter...
Continue ReadingMillennials invoke a lot of opinions – they’re the “me” generation, they are accused of acting entitled in job searches, they’re living in their parents’ basements. There are several articles on the internet that would tell you millennials are worse off than their parents. However, recent studies show that millennials who are starting families are saving at higher rates...
Continue ReadingFor many young couples, estate planning can be a topic that slips through the cracks or is seen as something reserved for retirees and the elderly. Then, something tragic happens and a spouse or other family member may be forced to make tough decisions under duress, because they are completely unprepared for making end of life decisions. We think...
Continue ReadingMany people, including federal employees, think estate planning is just for the well-to-do. FedSmith’s article, “Estate Planning for Federal Employees,” says that at the very least, you should understand what estate planning is, so you can make a decision regarding the legal documents you need. You don’t want to create a stressful problem for your family and loved ones. We also want...
Continue ReadingMany people only focus on what’s happening inside their portfolio at this very minute. A recent Kiplinger article asks, “Is Your Retirement Plan Completely Backward?” According to the article, many investors have their tools, but not a plan. That’s backward, because retirement planning is a process. Consider these steps: Your financial strategy should help protect and preserve the assets you don’t draw from...
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