Recent Blog Posts
At Long Last: What to Expect from Estate Taxes in 2011
It has been a long and uncertain year for anybody interested in the future of the estate tax, filled with a few ups, a few downs, and a lot of speculation. But after the recent passage of the new bipartisan tax bill all of the confusion and speculation is finally at an end, and… Read More »
Estate Tax Update: The End Is Near
It looks as if the long and weary road to estate tax clarity may soon be at an end. Especially if Washington lawmakers vote to approve the tax package negotiated between President Obama and Republican leaders without making too many changes. Laura Saunders of the Wall Street Journal claims in her recent article that… Read More »
Adult Children and Elderly Parents: Caring for Each Other
The idea of adult children caring for aging parents or grandparents is not a new one. In fact, with the aging Baby-Boomer population, adult children giving up free time or extra hours at work to care for relatives is a growing trend. But recently families have begun creating “caregiver compensation agreements,” something which can… Read More »
Talking to Siblings About Caring for Mom and Dad
Many modern families have members living all over the country—and all over the world. Which means that the holiday season provides one of the only times to all get together in person, celebrate, catch up… and talk about caregiving strategies for aging parents. Unfortunately, this kind of conversation can be a difficult one, especially… Read More »
Make This Year Memorable: A 2010 Gift-Giving Guide
Fruit baskets, kitchen gadgets, and Kindles aren’t the only gifts you can give loved ones this year (although you’ll see below that video game systems still make the cut.) Instead, why not give something unique that will leave a lasting impression and help protect your loved one? Here are a few non-traditional ideas for… Read More »
Are Misconceptions Keeping You From Planning for Retirement?
Planning for retirement can be tricky business. When we discuss our clients’ estate plans and assets with them we can’t help touching on retirement plans, so we hear a lot about the worries that go along with preparing for an uncertain future. There are many variables and unknowns that can crop up between starting… Read More »
A Good Year for Giving
The season of giving is upon us… and thanks to 2010’s unusual tax laws we may see some very large gifts before the year is out! If you are considering being particularly generous this year, this article from Reuters explains why the federal government is making 2010 an exceptionally good year for giving. Most… Read More »
Estate Planning Through the Ages
Can you remember what you were doing in your early 20s? Can you imagine what kind of life you’ll be living in your 70s or 80s? We experience incredible changes as the decades roll by—not just to ourselves, but in the world at large. With our lives changing so much, our estate planning documents… Read More »
Estate Planning for Adoptive Families
Most people know how important it is to update your estate plan when you experience big life changes; this includes moving, getting married, having a child… and it especially includes adopting a child. A recent article in Forbes reminds us that “An adopted child only has rights to your estate once the adoption has… Read More »
Make It Easy for Your Heirs to Say “No”
People have been known to do crazy things when taxes are as unpredictable as they are currently. No, we don’t mean “offing” their relatives (although there have been plenty of those kinds of jokes going around this year), we’re talking about saying “No thanks” to an inheritance (also called disclaiming.) This article in Investors.com… Read More »