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I recently read an article by Mark Albertson entitled “Estate Planning for Gun Owners” which I think is mandatory reading for anyone who owns a gun. I have had quite a few people over the last year contact me inquiring about a “gun trust” and how they could go about setting up such a trust. If you are a gun owner, you should make
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Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you’ve been hearing about the “fiscal cliff” and how our government waited until the very last minute to pass any meaningful legislation to avert us from this “cliff”. What does this mean for the “average Joe”? The bill addresses the Bush era tax rates, estate and gift tax rates and Medicare reimbursement, among other things. The
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The holidays are always time to be with family and enjoy each other’s company. Many of us travel great distances to see relatives whom we may only get to see once or twice a year. We visit with our parents and grandparents and listen to stories of past holidays and re-live family traditions. We catch up on what is happening in each other’s lives
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Advance Care Directives are specific instructions about medical care if that person becomes unable to do so. An example is a Living Will, a document that explains the wishes of a person during a terminal illness. Do Not Resuscitate Order, for example: “No CPR if breathing or heart stops.” It is written by doctor after discussing with the patient or a designated person. A Medical Power of Attorney allows
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One of the things I love about my practice is that my clients often give me hugs and say “thank you” because they know that I’ve helped them. One of the things I don’t love is when someone calls to tell me a client passed away. It is always a sad occasion and never gets any easier. On those sad occasions, I am almost
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I frequently have clients that come to me because they have been told that they need to put their house into a revocable living trust in order to avoid probate. Many times, this is the only major asset they own, and with the property values having plummeted in recent years, it may not be worth it to incur the expense of setting up a
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A new American Dream that is less conventional and more personalized is emerging, according to the fifth annual MetLife Study of the American Dream. Specifically stated within the nationwide survey is a look at attitudes toward financial safety nets. A financial safety net includes savings to cover living expenses in the event of illness, job loss, or other serious emergency, as well as financial
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A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in May of 1999 demonstrated that independently living seniors that have pets tend to have better physical health and mental well-being than those that don’t. They’re more active, cope better with stress, and have better overall health. A 1997 study showed that elderly pet owners had significantly lower blood pressure overall than their
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Whether you reached an age where you have adult children but may not yet be retired, or you have reached retirement age, this stage of financial and estate planning, by this point, you should have a thorough and proper review of your retirement planning. Unfortunately, I’ve heard that at least 55% of adult Americans, and possibly upwards of 70%, do not have any type
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You are young, in love, and married with a baby on the way (or already here). Ah, to be young and starting a family again. Now you really have some responsibility. Have you thought about who is going to take care of those cute little children if something should happen to one or both of you? Just as we go through different stages in
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