Author Archives: Site Administrator
Unusual Things Happen Every Day…
In a recent article in the Huffington Post financial columnist Don McNay tells the frustrating, sad, and “unusual” story of how the greater part of his mother’s and his sister’s estates ended up in the hands of people they would never have chosen to receive it… all because neither of them had a will… Read More »
New York Becomes 29th State to Pass Alert System for Vulnerable Adults Legislation
Last month saw some good news for seniors and their families in the state of New York. State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on his website that he “signed a law to create a statewide alert system for missing vulnerable adults, similar to the nationwide Amber Alert program, which will help authorities locate cognitively impaired… Read More »
Don’t Inadvertently Disinherit Your Loved Ones—Review Your Estate Plan Regularly
All of our readers know just how important—how essential—a will is to protecting your family after you pass away. Leaving clear and tangible instructions can prevent family infighting as well as hurt or unsettled feelings; and leaving a legally airtight will can prevent wasted time and money in unnecessarily long probate proceedings. But for… Read More »
The Estate Planning Post Every Woman Should Read
Although couples usually come into our office together to discuss their estate plans, quite often it’s the women who lead the discussion about planning for the guardianship of children, and the men who lead the discussion about financial planning. Estate planning is a subject which has a significant impact on women—in fact, this article… Read More »
Off to College? Don’t Forget Your HIPAA!
The hot and lazy days of summer are almost over; parents are thinking about back-to-school sales, kids are making the most of their final days of freedom, and college freshmen are getting ready to embark on their first year of adult-hood. Most of these college students have a list (whether mental or physical) of… Read More »
Blended Families Require Special Estate Planning
With the current high rates of divorce and remarriage—even into the retirement years—many blended families have a lot to consider when they create their estate plans. This article entitled “Inheritance plans for blended families present many options” considers the situations of Alice and Jack, 70 year old common law partners who wonder what is… Read More »
Mom and Dad are separated, but not divorced. Will Mom’s assets be counted on Dad’s VA Application?
Many couples choose to separate without ever becoming divorced. This can cause confusion when it comes to completing the application for the VA Aid and Attendance Pension. Normally, the VA requires married applicants to provide financial information for both spouses. If your parents are separated, this could mean that Dad has to provide Mom’s… Read More »
Addressing the Growing Financial Concerns of Baby Boomers
The “golden years” are supposed to be a time to retire and relax after a life of working hard for yourself and your family, but according to a recent story on NPR, Baby Boomers have some big financial concerns about the future, many of which involve how they will pay for health care in… Read More »
Planning Your Estate Can Help Loved Ones Cope With Loss
In our line of business we like to think that what we offer our clients is more than a way to minimize estate taxes or avoid a lengthy probate, we like to think that what we really offer our clients is an opportunity for peace and comfort during a time of stress and emotional… Read More »
Retirement Assets May Be Unpleasant Surprise for Heirs
You’ll often read news articles or blog posts about saving for retirement—when to start, how much to save, what savings or investment plan is best—but there’s an important retirement topic which often goes underreported: How these retirement accounts impact your heirs. As noted by this article in the Wall Street Journal, “The new, higher… Read More »