Anyone who has seen children opening presents at the foot of the tree on Christmas morning knows the greatest benefit that you receive when you give someone a gift. It is uncanny how you feel when you are engaged in gift exchanges, even when the people involved are adults. For the most part all of the real emotions that you feel are selfless; you feel genuine gratitude for the gifts you receive, and you feel an ineffable but palpable sense of empathetic resonance when you are giving gifts to … [Read more...] about The Benefits Of Gift Giving
Estate Planning
Nursing Home Costs Trending Upward
Planning your estate is intertwined with the plans that you must make for the end of your life, and to do this with due diligence you have to ask yourself how long you can realistically expect to live. When you look at the current statistics regarding longevity in the United States you see a remarkable trend. People are living longer, with the "oldest old, " those 85 years of age and older being the single fastest growing segment of our society. So if you have no specific health problems you may … [Read more...] about Nursing Home Costs Trending Upward
Include Your Memoirs In Your Estate
There are pragmatic matters to address when you are planning your estate, and of course it is important to take stock of your assets and decide how you would like to distribute them upon your passing. Doing the above involves making some smart financial decisions that require intellect, but there can be a profound emotional component to it as well. You have to consider what you would like to give to each of your loved ones and why, and aside from doing the math this can involve a great deal of … [Read more...] about Include Your Memoirs In Your Estate
What Are Revocable Living Trusts?
Estate planning involves the distribution of your financial assets to your heirs upon your death, and many people assume that the way this is done is through a will. Though it is true that wills are often used to define the terms of asset distribution, there are other vehicles for transferring assets that have a lot of appeal to many people. One of them is the revocable living trust. When you are planning your estate you invariably want to make things simple for your loved ones after you pass … [Read more...] about What Are Revocable Living Trusts?
Estate Plans For Young Families
There is no greater joy than the experience of having your first child, but when the initial excitement subsides, you may feel an added sense of responsibility that is quite profound. After all, it can be a revelation to suddenly recognize that you are now responsible for the health, happiness, and well being of another human being. There are many things to consider, and life is never quite the same after you become a parent. One of the things that young families should take very seriously is … [Read more...] about Estate Plans For Young Families
Estate Plans Provide Structure
Estate planning can have a comprehensive impact on your decision making that starts long before there is any reason to believe that there will be the need for any distribution of your assets in the immediate future. As we all know, success in any endeavor is largely contingent upon goal setting along with a long term plan that puts you on a course toward reaching those goals. If you go through life with a plan, keeping the larger picture in focus, your actions will be consistent and you will … [Read more...] about Estate Plans Provide Structure
Retirement Planning: The Sooner The Better
When you look at an overview of the financial realities that we all face throughout our lives, you immediately notice how everything is connected. Depending on the extent of your assets, you are probably going to have to plan for your retirement years before you consider how to plan your estate. And how prepared you are to address the financial realities of retirement is going to have everything to do with the value of your estate when you pass on, so it is clear that estate planning and … [Read more...] about Retirement Planning: The Sooner The Better
Estate Planning After a Divorce
The process of a divorce can be long and complicated, with multiple important decisions pushed to the wayside for the sake of timesaving and emotional relief. Many fail to follow through with updating their estate plan soon after they get divorced. This is a task that should be completed as close to the divorce as possible, if not before the actual divorce itself. There are some simple steps that you must take, in terms of estate planning, after a divorce. Taking care of these few simple and … [Read more...] about Estate Planning After a Divorce
Consult With A Probate Lawyer
When an estate goes through the process of probate there are many details that need to be addressed, and just how complex the matter is depends on the specifics of the estate in question. The probate or surrogate court proceeding requires the filing of a great deal of standard paperwork, and making sure that this is done and done correctly is the first step. There can also be matters of guardianship or conservatorship involving fiduciaries that need to be addressed. Any outstanding debt must be … [Read more...] about Consult With A Probate Lawyer
Your Estate Plan Depends Upon More Than Net Worth
If your net worth is large, an estate plan is vital. Net worth is not the only factor in deciding if you need an estate plan. There are several circumstances that may require you to have an estate plan to safely cover your interests and those of your family members. Minor Children If you have children under the age of eighteen, you need an estate plan to name your children’s guardian after your death. You can also use your plan to make provisions for your children’s education and other … [Read more...] about Your Estate Plan Depends Upon More Than Net Worth
