Current Affairs

• Posted in: Current Affairs

In spite of the growing numbers of adult children finding themselves in the situation of having to care for elderly parents, the role of caretaker can be a lonely and frustrating one.  But now there’s a place for caretakers to go online where they can get relevant news, good information, familiar stories, and most importantly: […]

• Posted in: Business Planning

Most of our small business clients probably already know that the federal minimum wage increased this week from $5.85 to $6.55 an hour. The increase is the second in a three-step process to bring the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour next year.  In California, the minimum wage was increased to $8 an hour on Janunary […]

• Posted in: Asset Protection

Recently we have quite a few clients deciding to tie the knot. Do dating and estate planning go hand in hand? They do if you are one of the lucky people finding romance late in life. With people living longer than ever before—and staying healthy and active longer as well—there are more cases of people […]

• Posted in: Current Affairs

There has been much noise made in the news recently about Leona Helmsley giving all of her millions to her dogs. But if you leave aside the incredible amount she left, her actions are not all that unusual. There are many people whose definition of family includes a beloved pet; and for those people, providing for […]

• Posted in: Asset Protection

There are some people who might question the patriotism of those who would try to arrange their affairs to pay a lower amount of taxes. But how much truth is there in that? Is it unpatriotic to want to work within the limits of the law to reduce the amount of taxes you pay? Everyone will […]

• Posted in: Asset Protection

Celebrity divorces can hardly be considered news anymore, they happen so often, but the recently finalized divorce between Bill Murray and ex-wife Jennifer Butler Murray is news because of something they did before the wedding: They signed a prenuptial agreement. And it worked. At least it seems to have worked so far according to the Associated Press. […]

• Posted in: Current Affairs

If you have an elderly parent or grandparent, you know how much time and research goes into finding the right care, the right doctor, or the right living situation for them.  Caring for the aging population is a growing industry, with new services and options almost every day. Trying to keep up with it can […]

• Posted in: Current Affairs

Do you know anyone who has been the victim of elder abuse?  As the pre-baby-boom generation ages, and as the cost of healthcare rises, so do the numbers of elder abuse victims rise as well. Elder abuse encompasses many things, from targeting the elderly in a bank or credit card scam, to the physical abuse […]

• Posted in: Current Affairs

Change is in the air for same-sex partnerships in California. The CA Supreme Court ruled yesterday to recognize gay marriage, a ruling that is meeting with mixed but strong reactions throughout the state—and the country. The overall significance of this landmark ruling has yet to be seen. California was one of the few states sympathetic to gay […]

• Posted in: Asset Protection

There are times when everybody needs a little motivation to plan for the future, but when you live in a situation that is outside the “norm” it’s even more important to think and to plan ahead. A little motivation to plan for retirement is exactly what many same-sex couples need, according to this study published in […]