Estate planning lawyers are reporting a significant rise in calls from new and existing clients wanting to make sure that their estate plans are complete and up to date. Estate plans are critical for anyone and everyone to have — no matter your net worth. If a similar thought has crossed your mind, below are…
Estate taxes can take a big bite out of what you leave for heirs — but unless you will be leaving more than $11 million, it is only a major factor in certain states. Currently, the federal estate tax applies only to estates valued at more than $11 million (twice that for married couples). However,…
How to become a millionaire? Increase your wealth? AFTER retirement? Um… No way you might say. So many retirement articles talk about how to make ends meet in retirement. And, most of us are indeed worried about running out of money and ask: “Will my savings really last as long as I do?” However, maybe…
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…
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…
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…
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…