Archive for February 2017
Estate Planning Basics to Address in 2017
If you spent the holidays catching up with friends and family, you saw how many lives changed over the course of the year. Kids grow up, get married and have kids themselves. Life is filled with changes, and estate plans need to reflect those changes. If you die without a will in North Carolina, what…
Read MoreAsking Aunt Sarah to Leave Her Home to Move to a Nursing Facility
This is one of the hardest parts of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or who is simply no longer able to take care of themselves safely and properly. It starts with an aide who comes by a few times a week to take care of an ailing parent, then gradually progresses until one…
Read MoreLeave a Legacy as Well as an Inheritance
Cash and investments are only part of the legacy you leave behind. Your family history, stories, values and personal items can also be shared across the generations. Most people think about money and property when they hear the word “inheritance.” However, in addition to passing along wealth and assets, families can take certain steps to…
Read MoreDon’t Forget to Update Estate and Financial Plans for These Stages and Changes in Life
Life is all about changes, from starting a family, buying a house, building a business, retiring and building a legacy. Your estate and financial plan needs to follow along with these changes and life events. It takes planning and the help of skilled professionals to guide us through complex areas that include estate planning and…
Read MoreBrother and Sister Fighting over Multimillionaire Father’s Estate
Prolific spending gave Del Dunmire a high profile in his hometown, but he was also generous, supporting a number of charitable organizations. Locally famous for overcoming an unsuccessful bank robbery and founding what became an international aviation parts company, Kansas City’s Del Dunmire had a reputation for throwing extravagant parties while also supporting Children’s Mercy…
Read MoreTiming is Everything, Even in Estate Planning
When both spouses die at the same time, whether as the result of an accident or natural disaster, sticky estate planning questions must be resolved concerning which spouse died first. Here’s one you didn’t see in the movie! When the Titanic sank in the icy waters of the North Atlantic, there were estate issues created…
Read MoreTrust Fund Battle Heading to Federal Court, if Parties Can’t Settle Dispute
At issue is whether or not the owner of the New Orleans Saints can take his ownership shares out of trust funds that had been created for family members, when they were all on speaking terms. Sadly, the family is now fractured. Having had a change of heart about who he wants to inherit full…
Read MoreTrump’s Tax Plan and Your Budget
Get ready for what may be the biggest changes to the tax code since the Reagan era. For starters, President Trump’s proposed tax changes cut the number of income tax rates from seven brackets to three: 12%, 25%, and 33%. He also wants to increase the standard deduction to $15,000 (from $6,300 for single filers)…
Read MoreWhy Everyone Who Earns a Salary Needs Long-Term Disability Insurance
No one expects to become so ill or injured that they cannot go to work, but it happens. To make matters harder, the process of qualifying for disability insurance is very difficult, as is maintaining eligibility for disability benefits. Many people take a very short-sighted approach to long term disability (LTD) insurance, according to NJ.com’s…
Read MoreSocial Security and Timing: What You Need to Know
Knowing when to start taking Social Security can make a significant difference in your household cash flow in retirement. You want to make the smartest decision possible, when it comes to taking your Social Security benefit, but it’s not always clear what the best choice is. Kiplinger’s “5 Keys to Your Social Security Benefits Strategy,”…
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