Category Archives: Family
Getting A Handle on Planning After the Birth of a New Baby
Congratulations on your newest addition. There are many different things to think about in the wake of becoming a new parent but one of the most important is putting an emergency fund. The U.S. Department of Agriculture shares that the cost of raising a child up to age 18 is more than $230,000 for… Read More »
Having Trouble Talking Estate Plan with Your Family?
For most people, they recognize that relationships that they’ve built over the course of their life are more important than anything else. However, no matter how good of a saver, planner or investor you consider yourself to be, other people are almost always impacted by your actions and decisions including your failures and your… Read More »
More Americans Are Passing Away with Debt Than Ever
A recent study of 220 million consumers in Experian’s File One database, indicated that up to 73% of consumers are passing away with debt in high numbers. For those individuals who do not have a home loan, the average debt was $12,875. However, consumers with a mortgage carried approximately $61,554 in debt. You may… Read More »
Three Changes in Your Life That Should Prompt You to Schedule an Appointment with Your Estate Planning Attorney
There are so many different circumstances that should warrant a meeting with your estate planning attorney. As estate laws or your individual life circumstances change, it is appropriate to update your estate planning documents to ensure that they are in line with your intentions. What follows are three of the most common changes in… Read More »
When It Comes To Relatives, More May Not Be Merrier But Are Welcome
Sharing shows caring. A somewhat surprising survey conducted late last year by the website MoneyRates.com found that a majority of Americans would be willing, if not exactly thrilled, to share their home with either adult children or older parents. “Additionally, most of those who have let an adult child move back home say they… Read More »
Caregivers Can Use Checklist For Loved One’s Legal Affairs
Caregivers have so very many responsibilities toward their loved ones, but some may not realize that keeping track of their legal affairs is almost on a par with watching out for their physical health, a recent article on the website of the AARP points out. “The ultimate goal is to make sure you have… Read More »
Divorce Should Trigger Automatic Estate Update
Divorce is often the most major disruption people will experience in their lives. It need not also disrupt things after their deaths. “If you have just gotten divorced, you may be focused on getting on with your life,” notes a recent story in The Wall Street Journal by Liz Moyer. “But make sure you… Read More »
Irrevocable Trust Could Have Saved Fuss Over Novelist’s Estate
The late Tom Clancy’s novels showed he had a remarkable grasp of military strategy. His muddled estate shows he did not bring the same kind of acumen to his own personal financial affairs, according to a recent article on the website insurancenewsnet.com. Clancy passed away in Baltimore on Oct. 1, 2013. He was 66…. Read More »
Parents, Children Need To Have That Other ‘Talk’
When it comes to parent-child relationships, “the talk” isn’t only from mom and dad to their offspring, and it doesn’t only deal with the facts of life. As noted in an article by Jane Bryant Quinn in the January AARP Bulletin, an important communication among family members involves financial matters. “What should you tell… Read More »
Devices Make It Easier To Monitor Mom And Dad’s Activities
When adult children live far from their older parents, they’re likely worried about how active mom or dad is being. As the saying increasingly goes, there’s an app for that. “Technology is making it easier for us to monitor our loved ones,” according to a recent story in The Washington Post by Matt McFarland…. Read More »