Learn the basics of Estate Planning, including wills and probate, trust, beneficiary designations & taxes.
"If you are at or near retirement, the thought of selling your home may have crossed your mind. Before you make that decision, though, you'd better spend some time considering the pros and cons."- Joe Uppleger. The sizzling hot housing market has many pre-retirees and retirees thinking about whether they should sell their current homes. [...]
Questions Regarding Probate Who is in charge of the probate process? The will names a personal representative who is responsible for overseeing the probate of an estate. A personal representative or executor may be a family member, friend, business associate, financial institution, or trust company. If the will designates no personal representative, the court appoints [...]
Many individuals find themselves awash in cash for various reasons, including fear of market volatility and insecurity surrounding the pandemic. Diane Marra If you're like many Americans, pandemic lockdowns saw you decrease your spending and increase your savings. Now, though, you might be looking at your cash reserves and wondering if your portfolio is as [...]
According to California-based exit planner Bill Black, "85% of small businesses have done no planning, leaving their families and employees at risk." In addition, survey after survey indicates that Baby Boomer and Genx business owners have done little to prepare for the day when they will no longer work in their businesses. Unfortunately, exiting a [...]
Probate is a process that identifies the deceased person’s assets and provides for the legal transfer to the intended beneficiaries. The process can identify debts, value property, and pay debts and taxes. Probate can last for a period of 9 months to a number of years depending on the complexity of the estate.
Not every situation requires the need for a full team and often just putting together a few parts can be enough to start the process. You should consider your personal situation and how it currently relates to your goals. When considering using advisors make certain they are necessary for your current plan.
"As you move from the accumulation segment of your financial life into the distribution phase, can you truly afford to take on more risk?"- Diane Marra As I lamented in my book, Retirement Planning Made Easy, the concept of retirement has taken on some negative connotations in the 21st Century. Along with an intensely complex [...]
Fees. It just sounds like a dirty word, doesn't it? No one likes paying fees. I certainly do not. But is it crazy to think we pay fees all of the time? They go by different names – service charge, bills, expense, etc. – but, at the end of the day, they are fees. We [...]
The Baby Boomers are overpowering the health care system. For over 100 years, the discussion of a national health care system in America has been both a hot and cold discussion. As president, Theodore Roosevelt first suggested a health care system that would be available for all Americans. In fact, as a candidate for [...]
Make sure you understand the financial burden of long-term care. What's one of the quickest ways your clients can blow through their retirement nest egg? Long Term Care, and with a 70% likelihood of needing some level of extended care, is a predominant retirement risk that should be addressed in every conversation. Many people believe [...]
