Tag Archives: Estateplanning

A financial plan is a written document that lays out your future financial, business and lifestyle goals and maps out comprehensive strategies for achieving them. Contrary to popular belief, financial planning is not just for the wealthy. Instead, it is a critical planning tool that can help individuals at all income levels make informed financial […]

Under new guidance from the IRS, widows and widowers who missed the deadline to claim a deceased spouse’s unused estate and lifetime gift tax exemptions as their own may have up to five years to make this portability election and shield more of their wealth from future tax liabilities. Understanding Portability In 2023, U.S. tax […]

It is increasingly common for pet owners to make provisions in their wills to provide ongoing care of their furry companions in the event they pass away or become unable to do so on their own. Moreover, all U.S. states and the District of Columbia allow their residents to establish pet trusts and set aside […]

Planning for retirement is often the last thing recent college graduates will think about upon entering the job market and earning a steady income. However, there is no minimum age for individuals to start thinking about saving for the future, whether it is for the purchase of a new car or home, to support a […]

One of the most critical yet often forgotten steps in the estate-planning process is preparing a surviving spouse to take over a family’s financial affairs. Even if you checked off all the boxes on your estate-planning to-do list, creating a will, properly titling accounts, naming beneficiaries and structuring assets for tax efficiency, your plan may […]

The inflation adjustments to various provisions of the tax code increase significantly in 2022 due, in part, to rising consumer prices and inflation over the past 12 months. It is important to consider these changes as you engage in estate planning and preparing for tax efficiency this year and in the years ahead. However, it […]

Engaging in estate planning is the best way to ensure your assets pass to your intended beneficiaries after death. The more detailed and specific language you use to draft your will, the better the chances that your wishes will be followed. However, consider what would happen if you drew up your will today, listing all […]

When second and third marriages result in the blending of two families, a complicated financial picture may emerge. Couples coming into a second or third marriage bring with them ex-spouses, children from previous relationships and financial responsibilities, assets and liabilities that may carry deep emotional attachments. Addressing these delicate issues from the onset will help […]

At some point, every parent must consider the possibilities of what will happen should they pass away before their children are old enough to care for themselves. This concern can be significantly more daunting when it involves special-needs children who may never become fully capable of living independently and supporting themselves. For these families, it […]

Trusts, once thought of as vehicles reserved for the wealthy, have been garnering attention from families at all income levels. In fact, trusts are becoming as ubiquitous as wills, providing individuals with the assurances that their wishes for asset distribution and care of loved ones will be followed upon their death and done so rather […]