As noted in the December 16th Forbes article by Harper Willis, here are six reasons you might need to update your beneficiary designations: 1. You got divorced or remarried. Some states automatically eliminate former spouses as beneficiaries; others don’t. Check with an estate-planning attorney to find out the law in your state. 2. You changed jobs and rolled over your ...Read More

In the National Law Review, Terri Stallard, a Kentucky estate planning attorney talks about ways grandparents can give to their grandchildren. Many grandparents want to enrich the lives of their grandkids, but are not sure the best way to accomplish this with their estate plan. I encourage clients to consider helping their grandchildren with the ...Read More

Many families, planning for a transfer of wealth is something they may think about, but never take the time to act upon. Unfortunately, this failure to establish a proper estate plan can significantly affect a family's long term financial stability and can lead to the payment of substantial estate taxes. Although this can be difficult ...Read More

Spouses are often shocked when they realize they aren't entitled to the entire estate just because they are married. People mistakenly think that because they are married, they receive the entire estate when a spouse passes away. Unfortunately, a spouse can find themselves having to share a deceased spouse's estate in unanticipated ways.First, it is ...Read More

There are many ways to broach "the talk" with your aging parents about estate planning and the sooner you start the better, for all concerned. A recent article in Huffington Post’s Business Canada suggests that getting a plan together when your parents are still in good health will prevent any stress or confusion that could ...Read More

LearnVest’s Libby Kane explains that while the word "inheritance" typically conjures up images of a will being read after a loved one's passing, many people don't want to wait that long to give money to their children. A recent study from U.S. Trust shows that the majority of wealthy individuals feel it's important to leave an ...Read More

Robert D. Schwartz, an estate planning attorney in Florida outlined some essential documents in any estate plan in a recent article for TCPalm. Last Will and Testament - the most basic estate planning document.  A will is a legal document which allows you to direct exactly where your assets are to be distributed when you ...Read More

Estate planning is more than just having documents. It needs to be tied to long-term intent and aligned with your goals. What works for one person may not work well for the next, and what worked 10 years ago may not work now. Geoffrey M. Zimmerman, CFP® practitioner, senior client advisor at Mosaic Financial Partners ...Read More

Huffington Post’s guest blogger, Diane Morais of Ally Bank addresses the question “How can I ensure the financial security of my family after I'm gone?" It's an important question that we all wrestle with -- and one that has fueled an expansive network for estate planning products and services to address this important concern. If ...Read More