Estate Planning Projects to Tackle in the New Year

As the end of the year approaches and you begin to look back on 2018, what changes need to be reflected in your estate plan? Have you gotten married or divorced in the past year? Perhaps you’ve welcomed a new child or grandchild, or experienced a change in your health. So much can change in a year, and it’s important not to let too much…

2018 Midterm Elections: What Do They Mean For Your Estate Plan?

Strategic Planning Guidance in Light of the Midterm Results Estate planning is meant to be an ongoing process, not a one-time transaction. In the same way that you never stop budgeting, saving, and investing as you go through life, it is also sensible to see estate planning as a lifelong project. Let’s look at some of the considerations you should make now that the 2018…

Three Legal Strategies When Facing a Major Health Event

What You and Your Family Need to Know Receiving a health diagnosis or learning that you need to undergo major surgery can cause substantial disruption in your day-to-day life. During this time, the last thing you may want to think about is estate planning. Although you may have many things going through your head at the moment, now is a crucial time to make sure…

What 199A Regulations Mean for Your Clients

Tax-Saving Opportunities for Business Owners Are any of your business-owning clients curious about the new Section 199A deduction? Although the deduction became effective on January 1, 2018, guidance on how it would be calculated was delegated to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by Congress. For months, financial and tax professionals have speculated about various aspects of this new deduction since Congress gave us little concrete…

Big “Life Changes” Often Mean Big “Estate Plan Changes”

Many people who put together an estate plan do so when they start a family – assuming they put an estate plan together at all during their lifetime. While putting an estate plan together is a good thing to do, few people make updates once the plan has been created, despite key life events happening over the years. This is a major mistake that can…

Keeping the Peace After You Are Gone

Planning With an Aim Towards Building Unity A will or trust contest can wreak havoc on families. The conflict can result in possibly irreparable resentment and loss of familial communication. Old rivalries and disputes can resurface during the trying time that occurs after the death of a loved one, especially a parent. But careful estate planning can help you substantially reduce the risk, or even…

Legal Considerations When Getting Your College Student Ready

If you are preparing to send your son or daughter off to college to pursue higher education, you may be wondering how their first semester of school will go. During this exciting new chapter in your family’s life, the last thing you may be thinking about is estate planning for your college-aged child. While your child may not have any assets (yet), once he or…

Which Asset Protection Strategies Are Right for Your Clients?

How You Can Keep Legal Claims From Threatening Their Property? Most of us do not expect to be sued. However, lawsuits are filed every day the courthouses are open. If your clients’ estate plans don’t include adequate asset protection, they could end up losing a substantial amount of their wealth in the event of a claim – even a “frivolous” one. It’s well worth talking…

Protecting Your Children’s Inheritance When You are Divorced

Consider this story. Beth’s divorce from her husband was recently finalized. Her most valuable assets are her retirement plan at work and her life insurance policy. She updated the beneficiary designations on both to be her two minor children. She did not want her ex-husband to receive the money. Beth passes away one year after her divorce. Her children are still minors, so the retirement…

Does Your Family Know About Your Estate Plan?

A Guide for How Much to Share and With Whom It’s the thick of tax season and you’ve probably been working on (or recently finished) your income tax returns. Most of us don’t feel comfortable sharing the details of our tax returns, unless we have to – for example when applying for a mortgage. But your estate plan, an important part of having your affairs…

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