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In This Season of Thanksgiving…
I saw the first snow of the season on the mountain yesterday. The winter days are getting shorter, the weather cooler, and few of the skeletal arms of trees reach for the skies as their colorful apparel rests on the ground. All of these signs point to just one thing… No, not the estate tax […]
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As Time Goes By…
Thanksgiving is upon us again. Most of my family will be in town this week to share the holiday together. For many people the holiday season brings more than just celebration. Seeing family and friends you may not have seen since this time last year means seeing grandchildren who have shot up like weeds, siblings […]
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Don’t Take That IRA Withdrawal Yet! New Options for Seniors in 2009
During our seminars this year, I’ve reminded the audience that if you are a senior 70 ½ or older who owns an IRA we have good news for you. Last year Congress approved legislation that waives the minimum withdrawal requirement for seniors in 2009. This leaves seniors with more options than usual regarding their IRAs. […]
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The Intersection of Family and Finances
Forget silver, china, or linens; the best gift you can give a newly married couple is an estate plan! This is especially true if the marriage is a second marriage for either of them. Marrying a person means marrying their financial issues as well; this may include children or responsibilities from a previous marriage, a […]
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Imagine No Estate Tax
The federal estate tax is scheduled to disappear next year (in 2010); and although most people expect lawmakers to pass legislation keeping the estate tax alive, they also vaguely hope that the estate tax (also sometimes called the “death tax”) does disappear—at least for a little while. But this article in the Wall Street Journal […]
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What To Do If You Suspect Foul Play
The movies have given people certain expectations when it comes to a death in the family and probating a will; this Hollywood portrayal includes an attorney, a book-lined office, and the entire family assembled for a formal reading of the will which ends in shocked gasps as the entire fortune goes to an unknown and […]
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The Dangers of Neglecting Your Estate Plan
Many people think that there’s no need to update your estate plan documents if none of your beneficiaries or fiduciaries have changed, but that’s exactly the kind of thinking that can lead to disaster. Estate planning documents are based not only on your own wishes, but also on federal and state tax laws. When we […]
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The IRS Provides One More Reason to Consider Long-Term Care Insurance
In the estate planning business we help people plan for the future, not only for their children and heirs but for themselves as well; which is why we are pleased to share the news that it just got a little bit easier to plan for your own financial future, because according to this article on […]
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Trust Mill Con-Men Fined $6.4M for Illegal Practice of Law
The Ohio Supreme Court has recently taken strong action against two co-owners in a company participating in an illegal “trust mill” operation. According to this article from the Associated Press, the two owners, Jeffrey and Stanley Norman, have been permanently barred from marketing or selling their trust products in Ohio after they were found to […]
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Alzheimer’s Disease Can Take Your Memory AND Your Financial Security
Alzheimer’s disease affects as many as 5.3 million people in the United States; which means it affects as many as 5.3 million families, because Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects everybody it touches—husbands, wives, children and grandchildren—they all bear witness to their loved one’s slow demise. Sadly, emotional stress is not the only stress that […]
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