Sometimes it feels like the world is designed for couples. People throw dinner parties for couples. Most forms ask about your spouse. And, let’s face it, retirement and aging — an era when you’ll genuinely sometimes need a helping hand — can feel kind of scary on your own. Whether by circumstances or choice, the U.S.Census…
Estate Planning News, Information and Guidance
Preparing for retirement means having a financial plan as well as a good idea for what you want to do during this period of your life. Estate planning has a similar duo of goals: You want to establish a clear instructions for how your money and other assets will be distributed as well as figure…
Henry “Bud” Hebeler died on August 21, 2017 in Bellevue, Washington at the age of 84. Bud was a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating with three degrees, numerous awards and several fellowships. After graduation he began his career as an engineer at Boeing Aerospace Company and worked his way to becoming president…
Many of us would like to leave behind something to our heirs. But, first things first, we need to fund our own lives in retirement and that can sometimes seem nearly impossible. This article explores average inheritance numbers. Do you expect to be above or below average? The Big Takeaways Sharing while you are still…
While on the campaign trail leading up to the 2016 Presidential Election, Donald Trump repeatedly promised to repeal federal estate taxes. Recent announcements from the White House indicate his intent to push these changes through. Currently, the federal estate tax applies only to estates valued at more than $5.49 million (twice that for married couples)….
When the time comes, and it comes for all of us, will your family have the luxury of grieving in peace? Or will they, instead, be burdened with the duty of sorting out your estate because you never got around to making a will? You can make your own decisions and leave a will, or…
With the world and our culture being more uncertain than ever before, it is exponentially more important to begin thinking about life after retirement, as well as the lives of our loved ones after we’re gone. And while it may be impossible to predict what the economy may be like down the line, all the…
They say there are only two things in life that you can’t avoid: Death and taxes. Estate taxes seem to capitalize on both of those certainties, but they might not have the effect that you fear. The only way to know for sure is by learning all that you can about the taxes due upon…
End of life planning is often the last thing a pre-retiree wants to do. Also known as advance care planning, it’s not usually noted as a top priority due to its seemingly unpleasant nature, but tackling the topic early on not only provides peace of mind, it also ensures affairs will be handled in accordance…
As America’s aging population continues to grow, one crime in particular stands to gain from this booming cohort: elder financial abuse. It has already proven to be a $2.9 billion a year business, but nothing has stopped it from thriving. Why? It’s under-reported and misunderstood, according to the 2014 “Safeguarding Our Seniors” study by Allianz…
When approaching retirement, it’s common for people to start thinking about how they’ll be remembered and what they’ll leave behind. In most cases, leaving a legacy for children, grandchildren, or charities and other causes people are passionate about takes careful planning and the advice of a financial planner. Read on for five ways to leave…
The Necessity of Estate Planning Squaredaway.com, December 3, 2013 Let’s face it, estate planning is not a fun concept to ponder. Writing up a will is having to pick and choose who in your life is going to get your various assets, and it can’t always be done in perfect impartiality for all of your…
Late actor’s bequests to family could have hefty costs By Liz Skinner Jul 11, 2013 @ 3:53 pm (Updated 5:02 pm) EST The $70 million estate of the late actor James Gandolfini, best known for his role as mobster Tony Soprano, may owe a cool 40% in estate taxes due to the actor’s generous bequests to…
This is a contribution from Bud Hebeler who runs analyzenow.com Here’s a question that has come to me several times: Question: What’s your take on the pro and con of a will versus revocable living trust? Answer: Thank you for asking. Be aware, I’m not an expert on this subject. I will tell you what…
No happily married couple wants to think of the possibility of getting a divorce, but this is something that everyone needs to think about to protect their assets. Think about it – would you want your ex to inherit your retirement funds?! This can be taken care of by revisiting the beneficiary designations on wills…
