Having a solid estate plan in place is one of the best things you can do to prepare for the future. However, a lot of people hesitate to get one together. It doesn’t help that there are all kinds of misconceptions out there about who needs an estate plan, how they...
Estate Planning
3 assets that shouldn’t be included in your will
A will is the foundation of any solid estate plan. By creating a will, you’ll be able to specify your wishes for your assets and designate them for your loved ones upon your death. In the event you die without a will, your loved ones may have to go through the...
3 concerns about your children that may necessitate a trust
Parents thinking about what happens to their children when they die often put a lot of careful consideration into the inheritance they leave for each child. Your plans can serve as a final reminder to your children of how much you love them. The inheritance they...
You are never too young to do estate planning
Many people make the mistake of assuming that they are too young to create an estate plan. This is one of the top reasons for procrastination. Someone in their 30s may know that they need a plan, for example, but they will decide that they’ll circle back and make that...
When should business succession planning start?
Business succession planning is the process of passing a business on to someone else. For many business owners, this means giving it to the next generation. It’s a family business and they want to pass it on to their children. But there are also options to pass it to...
The pros and cons of funding spendthrift trusts
When your kids were growing up, they all had distinct personalities and traits. Those qualities likely continue to manifest in adulthood, at least in some form. Now that it’s time to do your estate planning, you wonder how to best protect your heirs after you’re gone....
Can your children actually inherit your property?
As you consider your estate planning, odds are that you just assume your children are going to be the main beneficiaries who get your assets when you pass away. This may not be the case if your spouse is still alive and they have a claim first, but you do think that...
Is it time to review your estate plans?
Estate planning is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your loved ones. It ensures that your assets are distributed the way you want and can also provide peace of mind in knowing that you have taken care of everything. However, estate plans...
Do you need to make an estate plan for your debt?
Estate planning often focuses on distributing the assets that you own. People also use it to do things like making medical decisions in advance. But it’s important to remember that it also has to address debt. Specifically, if you pass away with outstanding debt, that...
Incorporating charity into your estate plan
You’ve taken the important step of addressing your estate plan. First of all, you want to make sure that all of your loved ones are cared for should you become incapacitated. However, there are other things that you also want to include. You’ve always been a...