You may want to give to charity when you are planning your estate. Your legacy could then live on after your passing as some of your resources are utilized to make the world a better place. If you do have philanthropic aims you have to decide on a vehicle or vehicles of charitable giving. One option is the creation of a private foundation. When you look into the subject you may be surprised to hear that most of these foundations don't have any employees, and the majority of them … [Read more...] about Make Charitable Gifts Count
Financial Planning
Speak With Attorney After Spouse Passes
Estate planning is a long-term process, and this is one of the reasons why you should think in terms of developing an ongoing working relationship with your estate planning attorney from the start. Things change in your life, and invariably these changes are going to call for estate plan updates. Some of the changes are quite positive, such as additions to the family or an improved financial standing. Unfortunately, others are necessary because someone that you love passes … [Read more...] about Speak With Attorney After Spouse Passes
Estate Planning Considerations for Same-Sex Couples
People who are involved in committed long-term same-sex partnerships may or may not have the ability to have their unions legally recognized in the states within which they reside. At the present time Indiana is not one of the states that will allow for gay marriages. This has some very profound implications on an estate planning level. There is a $5.25 million per person exclusion, but this only applies to asset transfers between people who are not married. If you are legally … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Considerations for Same-Sex Couples
Wealth Preservation Is Key
If you are the first person in the family to accumulate significant wealth you probably had to work hard in one way or another to put together these foundational resources. You also have to work hard to make sure that they stay in the family for generations to come. It is logical to assume that "money makes money." According to experts a lot of people who inherit large sums of money do embrace this mantra, but they ultimately sit around waiting for this money to multiply … [Read more...] about Wealth Preservation Is Key
Do You Have an Estate Planning Consultation Scheduled?
If you have an initial estate planning consultation scheduled you should know what to expect. Your attorney is going to ask certain questions to determine what your needs are and gather the information that he or she requires to properly address these needs. Previously Executed Estate Planning Documents For one thing, you should inform your attorney about any previously existing estate planning documents that you may have signed in the past. When an estate is being administered there … [Read more...] about Do You Have an Estate Planning Consultation Scheduled?
Three FAQs About Revocable Living Trusts
Some people who have heard about the existence of revocable living trusts shy away from them because they don't understand exactly how they work. There is no reason to decide against something before you understand the facts. You can always schedule a free consultation with our firm to learn about revocable living trusts, and we invite you to do so if you are interested. Let's take a look at three frequently asked questions about revocable living trusts here. Do I surrender … [Read more...] about Three FAQs About Revocable Living Trusts
Studies Reveal Trend Toward Reduced Inheritances
There is an interesting trend that researchers are finding regarding the inheritances that members of the baby boomer generation will be receiving. These are the people who were born between 1946 in 1964, and they are incrementally reaching their mid-60s, which is of course the approximate age of retirement for most individuals. Merrill Lynch surveyed a sampling of individuals who are in possession of at least $250,000 of investment assets over a period of time. In 2009, 54% of … [Read more...] about Studies Reveal Trend Toward Reduced Inheritances
Consider a Charitable Lead Trust
There are various different ways to incorporate charitable giving into a comprehensive estate plan. While giving is its own reward on a particular level, without question many people are more or less compelled to give to charity because of the tax advantages. One of the devices that can be utilized to great advantage, especially during our current era when interest rates are low, is a charitable lead trust. We will endeavor to provide a very simple, surface explanation here but we … [Read more...] about Consider a Charitable Lead Trust
How Long Will You Continue Working?
People are working longer than they did a couple of decades ago according to research that has been compiled by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College. While you may want to work even if you don't have to, it is certainly a good idea to make this choice on your own. You don't want to be forced to work when you are in your late 60's, 70's, and perhaps beyond out of financial need. And even those who would like to be working may not be capable of doing so at some point in … [Read more...] about How Long Will You Continue Working?
Youthful Wisdom Yields Long-Term Results
Some retirement planning experts have suggested that people should begin thinking about retirement when they are still in college. It is certainly true that you can never start saving too soon. The quality we know as "wisdom" is often thought of as being the exclusive domain of those who have a considerable amount of life experience. This may be true to some extent, but sometimes young people can make wise decisions as well. When you do the math you have a considerable amount of time to … [Read more...] about Youthful Wisdom Yields Long-Term Results
