There is a saying that goes something along the lines of “the only thing worse than getting old is the alternative,” which is said to express pretty well the dismay, betrayal, confusion and sometimes horror that go along with the aging process. Americans are living longer than ever—which really means that there are more opportunities […]
Read moreWith all the worrying you’ve been doing about the economy, the stock market, and shrinking investments, have you given any thought to how your existing estate plan may be affected by all of this? The New York Times has. And what they’ve found is hopeful. Although estates may be smaller, there’s now more room for […]
Read moreAs if dealing with the emotional pain after the death of a loved was isn’t enough, bereaved relatives now have one more thing to be aware of after a family member has passed away; incorrigible debt collectors looking for someone—anyone!—to pay off the debts of the deceased, even if you have no obligation to do […]
Read moreChange in Washington D.C. means change will eventually trickle down to all of us, especially when that change has to do with taxes. In preparation for that change, Dean Zerbe of Forbes.com has provided us with a review of President Obama’s tax proposals. According to Zerbe, Obama’s proposals contain (as Clint Eastwood would say) the […]
Read moreMy son goes to college in Arizona. A disturbing precedent is being set there, where a group of siblings are having a court battle over their mother’s estate… while she’s still alive! Family members fighting over inheritance is a sad situation, but not unusual. In fact, it probably happens more often than you may think; […]
Read moreWe just celebrated Presidents’ Day this week. Unfortunately when President Abraham Lincoln passed away on April 15, 1865 he left his family at the mercy of the state laws of inheritance and succession—because he died without a will. It is hard to imagine how Lincoln could have neglected this; after all, he was a statesman […]
Read moreTowards the beginning of the year most people make resolutions having to do with diet or finances—or both. But what if you combined the two and put yourself on a financial diet? This is exactly what Ron Lieber is suggesting in his February 6 article in the New York Times. As Lieber points out, because […]
Read moreThe inauguration of Barack Obama is only days away, and many people are curious (to say the least) about what his presidency has in store. We all know there are changes ahead; some you may be looking forward to, and others about which you may be apprehensive. If you’re looking right now with an interested […]
Read moreNew Year’s Eve has come again, and it’s time for New Year’s Resolutions. A new year means a fresh start; it is an opportunity to reassess—your life, your work, and your self—and separate the wheat from the chaff; an opportunity to leave the unhelpful things behind with 2008 and bring in new and better habits […]
Read moreDo you know who will be making your end-of-life decisions when you are incapacitated? Joe John Sorce found out the hard way that failure to execute a healthcare directive or living will doesn’t mean you don’t have a healthcare agent, instead it means that your agent will be chosen by the laws of your state […]
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