There comes a time for a business owner to plan transition of ownership.  Before selling or giving a business to family members, the owner must devote thought to the outcome that he or she wants to accomplish. Regardless of the intended family recipient(s), all parents have to ponder and answer the following questions to determine their exit objectives: How ...Read More

The following commentary is extracted from an article written by Laura Shumaker - writer and Autism Advocate - and mother of a special needs child.  It appeared in SFGate.com of the San Francisco Chronicle.  Feb. 14, 2013. 1) Most parents of children with special needs worry about what will happen to their child when they ...Read More

Whether famous or just regular folks, we are reminded by the following anecdote that a few extra steps in your estate planning will deliver on your intentions. Sonny Bono A former musician, TV show host, and politician, Sonny Bono was a busy man—apparently too busy to write a will before his untimely death in a skiing ...Read More

Whether famous or just regular folks, we are reminded by the following anecdote that a few extra steps in your estate planning will deliver on your intentions. Warren Burger You’d think the former Chief Justice of the highest court in the land -- the US Supreme Court -- would get this right. But he opted to write is own will.  ...Read More

That may be how you feel when you are the surviving member of your family, and there is no family members to inherit your estate.   I found the below article to be a short, but helpful guide for those with no heirs 5 Estate Planning Moves For Those Without Heirs By David Sterman The whole ...Read More

Whether famous or just regular folks, we are reminded by the following anecdote that a few extra steps in your estate planning will deliver on your intentions. Stieg Larsson This Swedish writer of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo novel trilogy may have written gripping stories about women as victims, but unfortunately in his non-fictional world he left his ...Read More

Whether famous or just regular folks, we are reminded by the following anecdote that a few extra steps in your estate planning will deliver on your intentions. Doris Duke The tobacco heiress died with a fortune estimated to be worth $1.3 billion and thus making her the "world's richest woman" of the time.  Her will included ...Read More

Whether famous or just regular folks, we are reminded by the following anecdote that a few extra steps in your estate planning will deliver on your intentions. Jimi Hendrix The guitar legend passed away at age 27 without a will. Although he was very close to his brother, state law awarded everything to his father, ...Read More

The Tax Court has just passed a new technique that closely-held businesses owners —and wealthy families — can use to pass assets to heirs with a minimal amount of taxes and complications. The ruling in the case, Wandry v. Commissioner, is stirring up excitement among experts.  The below commentary was written by a WealthCounsel associate, …Read More

The wealth of many boomers is tied up in businesses they own. And that can be a problem when it comes time to retire. The Wall Street Journal published a very good article on this topic, and my WealthCounsel colleague, Lizette Sundvick, added the below commentary. If you’re a small business owner, then you probably ...Read More