The Importance of Estate Planning

Estate planning is uncomfortable. But the decisions you make in making your estate plan are actually acts of love and kindness to the people we trust with our affairs. But such acts of love also require courage, says an article on nj.com. The key to estate planning involves the preparation of three documents expressing your… Read More »

Angie’s List Tips on Estate Planning

A recent survey by AARP showed that about 40 percent of Baby Boomers have not drawn up a will. That number jumps to  71 percent for all Americans over age 34. Procrastination, lack of incentives and cost are the top excuses. But a story on fox40.com that quotes Angie Hicks of Angie’s List says not… Read More »

Rising Interest Rates And Estate Planning

Now that the Federal Reserve has taken the first step in raising interest rates, wealthy families may want to consider how this changing environment may affect their estate plans. A story in the Wall Street Journal says people may want to take advantage of some wealth-transfer approaches before rates climb even more, while thinking about… Read More »

Robotic Aides May Be The Future

As people live longer, the ranks of the old and frail are growing by leaps and bounds. A big fear is over who will care for them. A story in the New York Times says drones may be the answer. It notes that a University of Illinois robotics designer has received a $1.5 million federal… Read More »

Medicare Encourages End of Life Talks

Medicare patients will be urged to discuss advance care planning with their doctors next year more frequently due to changes in billing codes. Starting in 2016, Medicare will allow payments to doctors for counseling their patients about end of life planning at different times. In the past, it would allow payments only on the first… Read More »

Estate Planning Mistakes

Estate planning can be complex, but it doesn’t have to be, as long as you avoid some common mistakes and pitfalls. A story on wmur.com lists some of those mistakes. They include: * Failing to plan. If you don’t have a will or an estate plan, the state can make decisions for you. * Not… Read More »

Estate Planning in 2016

Estate planning rules change from year to year. Here are a few facts about changes that will affect estate planning next year. They are listed in a story on www.fool.com, the “Motley Fool” site. * The lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion amount increases to $5.45 million. The is up slightly from last year. *… Read More »

Digital Legacies Part of Estate Plan

These days, estate planning includes not just who gets our worldly goods when we die but also what happens to our digital legacies. New companies are springing up to help us make plans and gather all the information our heirs will need in one place. One is called Everplans.com. Another is FinalRoadMap.com. It is one… Read More »

Estate planning for Millennials and Xers

Nobody likes to think about the prospect of being old, disabled, incapacitated or dying. But it is when you are young that you should think about your finances, your possessions and your family. The biggest mistake millennials make is that they associate estate planning with the elderly and the rich, says an article on thestreet.com…. Read More »

Planning Your Digital Legacy

Before the digital age, a family member could walk through a home and find physical objects or paper records. The mail could be checked for bank statements and bills. Today, many statements are sent by email and financial records are often stored in the Cloud or on computers. And many people don’t consider all this… Read More »

Facebook Tool For Digital Estate Plan

Facebook has announced a new feature called Legacy Contact that lets users authorize another person to access or modify their accounts when they die. A Legacy Contact can, among other things, write a post to display at the top of the dead person’s timeline, update the person’s profile picture and download an archive of the… Read More »

Keep Your Money In Your Family

The inheritance you want to leave to your heirs could be eaten away by taxes and expenses. But there are strategies to prevent that. A story in US News lists five strategies to help keep your money in your family — even though if you are single you can have up to $5.45 million in… Read More »

Estate Planning Not Just For The Rich

The rich aren’t the only ones who can benefit from estate planning. Determining what will happen to your assets and property when you die and planning for the tax implications of passing on your wealth is for everyone, says a story on nerdwallet.com. Even if you don’t have a fortune to leave to your heirs,… Read More »