What Are “See-Through” Trusts?

Estate planning is an important part of the financial picture. Planning for what will happen with your assets after you’ve passed away can set the stage for a comfortable future for your loved ones, even if you are no longer there to provide for them. In the estate planning process, you may come across the …

Use Life Insurance to Increase Estate Value With These Tips

When planning for the future, many people see the finish line as the happy day when they retire.  However, in reality, this is only the beginning.  Estate planning can be a difficult process if plans are not made before retirement.  Discussing all possible solutions to keeping more of your money to pass on to loved …

Estate Planning: Living Will & Power of Attorney

Health care directives are instructions given to allow for a person’s wishes to be carried out if they are not able to speak for themselves.  There are two common types of health care directives:  a living will and a durable power of attorney. Living Will A living will is a legal document in many states …

Estate Planning: Property Ownership & Joint Tenancy

By spending a little money and time on estate planning keep the courts and attorneys from deciding how an estate is divided after a person’s death.  By not having a plan, the end result can be that costs increase with delays and frustration for family members and loved ones. The substantial benefits yielded by planning …

Estate Planning: Death Valuation, Fair Market Value

The fair market value (what a buyer is willing to pay a seller) of an estate’s assets is the value at which those assets are included in the gross estate for tax purposes.  This amount is determined on one of two dates:  the date of death or the alternate valuation date.  The alternative valuation date …

Estate Planning: Assets, Estates & Transfers

When planning an estate, the process begins with digging deep into fact finding of finances.  Reviewing assets and understanding the best ways to transfer assets is key in ensuring that family members will not have to deal with the “red tape” of probate court, especially if one passes without a will in place. Asset Review …

Estate Planning: Assets & Finances

When planning an estate, the process begins with digging deep into fact finding of finances.  Reviewing assets and understanding the best ways to transfer assets is key in ensuring that family members will not have to deal with the “red tape” of probate court, especially if one passes without a will in place. Asset Review …

Estate Planning: Per Stirpes, Per Capita, Probate & More Definitions

Estate planning can become complicated and confusing, especially when discussing terms such as per capita and per stirpes.  However, how a person wants his or her estate divided after they have passed can be dictated based on these terms. Per Stirpes A legal Latin term, per stirpes literally means “by branch” and refers to the …

Estate Growth and Shrinkage

When a person’s assets accumulate over time, one can expect to see those assets grow as they age.  However, after death, a large chunk of those same assets can end up being eaten away by government taxes, fees, and other administrative costs.  This decrease can be a significant portion of a person’s estate and is …

Estate Planning: How to Keep More of Your Money

Planning what to leave heirs when a person dies is not something that can be done in one day.  Rather, estate planning requires knowledge, thought, and ongoing protection of assets in order to reach the goals of wealth distribution for future generations. Estate Planning Estate planning involves the process of accumulating, preserving, and distributing assets …