Why You Need A Living Will
Living wills are important because the lay out your preferences for life-sustaining medical treatment. It is often accompanied by a health-care proxy or power of attorney, which allows someone to make treatment decisions for you if you are incapacitated and the living will does not have specific instructions for the situation at hand. “Living will” […]
Warning: Don’t Let Creditors Inherit from You or Your Spouse
Although spouses receive special treatment when inheriting a retirement account such as an IRA (the ability to roll over the account into a personal retirement account and to stretch the distributions over their lifetime), the retirement account you leave for your spouse can still be seized in a divorce, a lawsuit, or a bankruptcy proceeding. […]
Five Reasons to Protect Your Retirement Accounts Now
Your retirement account provides asset protection during your lifetime, but as soon as you pass that account to a loved one, that protection evaporates. When your spouse, child, or other loved one inherits your retirement account, creditors have the power to seize it and use the funds to satisfy their claims. This means one lawsuit […]
Is Your Estate Plan Strong Enough For a Pandemic?
Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) gave name to the disease-causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak. The coronavirus disease 2019 shortly after became known by its abbreviation, CO for corona, VI for virus, D for disease, and 19 for the year of the outbreak; COVID-19. This virus will likely become a milder illness in […]
The Dangers of Inheritance and Medicaid
When it comes to inheritances and Medicaid, man mistakes can be made. Those mistakes can be costly. When a person is drawing Medicaid benefits and inherits money or property, that inheritance jeopardizes the benefits. The inheritance must be handled carefully to minimize expensive penalties. What “careful” means, though, can be misunderstood without the necessary expertise. […]
My Loved One Has Died – What Do I Do Now?
When a family member or other loved one dies, grief and shock can sometimes be overwhelming. The last thing most people want to think about is making phone calls or funeral arrangements. Some things do not need to be done immediately, but there are some steps that should be taken soon after the loss of […]
Choosing the Right Beneficiary
While estate planning allows you the freedom to choose who will receive your money and property upon your passing, struggling to determine who should receive your accounts and property at your death may prevent you from starting the process. You should not let this stop you from creating an estate plan, however. Whether it is […]
Estate Planning Considerations for Religious Leaders
Your noble calling is to help others grow in their faith and help them navigate the difficult circumstances that life may throw their way. It is important that you also take care of your affairs, however. A financial and estate planning team can help you create a plan that will protect you today and tomorrow […]
Estate Planning Considerations for Incarcerated Individuals
If you are preparing for or are currently incarcerated, the future may be uncertain right now. Proper estate planning may ease some of the worries you are facing. Regardless of how long your incarceration is for, we are here to help you address your concerns and develop a plan that will protect you and your […]
Understanding the Differences Between Wills and Trusts
Wills and trusts have specific and quite different benefits for estate planning purposes. Each state has specific laws and regulations governing these legal documents. You can have both a will and a trust; however, the information in each should compliment the other. As a standalone, it is not accurate to say one is better than […]