Estate Planning

A will is the foundation of many estate plans, and offers an opportunity for you to convey your property to family members and friends after you have passed. Every state has its own requirements about wills, legal documents that provide instructions for property distribution after death. In Kansas, there are certain requirements for a will…

Continuing to work a few more years past 62, can have a big impact on your retirement finances. This is especially true for federal employees, who can gain as much as $10,000 per year by working to age 66. Because it’s the earliest age you can start taking Social Security, many people think of age…

Rocker Bennington’s will includes his wish that his children maintain a sense of family, but bickering between mothers has undermined even the best of intentions. With six children from three different relationships, Linkin Park’s frontman Chester Benning wanted his kids to grow up knowing each other. That includes Jaime, 21 and Isaiah, 19, with Elka…

The responsibility of a large inheritance is one that many people take very seriously. Sometimes, this can be a stressful situation, even though that sounds unlikely. Maybe you buy the occasional lottery ticket or hope for a windfall from a distant relative. But when a large inheritance arrives, it is often accompanied by major responsibilities.…

We’re all mortal, but it’s a hard concept for many to imagine. That’s why many people put off estate planning. Do you really want to put your loved ones through the stress and costs of untangling your estate? It’s often the experience of a friend or family member who is left to clean up the…

Being able to talk with your family about your estate plan is not easy, since the underlying subtext—your own eventual death—is difficult for parents and adult children. However, by having these frank discussions, you eliminate stress and often, promote a greater family bond. People’s skills in saving for retirement, investing and managing finances are important…

Everyone needs an estate plan, regardless of your level of net worth. Think of your estate plan like a car: it needs ongoing service to keep running smoothly One of the key functions of an estate plan is to distribute assets after you die. If you don’t have an estate plan, the state has one…

Taking a look at the data surrounding farms and the estate tax reveals a different picture than what is being presented. During a visit to North Dakota, President Trump said he would eliminate the federal estate tax, saying it is a huge burden on small businesses and family farmers in that state and across the…

The potential for avoiding the process and costs of probate makes some people feel like living trusts are the answer to their estate planning problems. However, there are certain limitations and costs associated with trusts, which need to be considered before making a decision. “Living trust” seminars have a single focus: that using this type…

It’s heartbreaking, but it does happen: both parents die unexpectedly, and there’s no will, and no one has been named a guardian. Who decides who will raise your children? Being a good parent means being responsible for the well-being of every member of the family. That includes planning for catastrophe. In a best case scenario,…