Clients sometimes ask about the wisdom of giving their home to their children, usually in order to avoid probate and “simplify” things after the parent’s demise. However, this is not usually the best plan and doing so can often result in unintended tax consequences for the recipient child. This is especially so if the parent’s… Read More »
Blog Posts Page 30
Need Help For Nursing Home Costs?
If a family member needs care in a nursing home, you may be surprised by the cost. In our community, the cost of placement even for routine custodial care averages approximately $7,500 per month for a semi-private room and approximately $8,500 per month for a private room. Most families cannot afford this expense without impoverishing the at-home… Read More »
Consider A Pet Trust To Protect Your Furry Companions
According to a recent article on BusinessInsider.com, there are some surprising new figures about American households and their pets. “In 2011, Americans spent a record $50.8 billion on pets, according to the American Pet Products Association. We share our homes with an estimated 86 million cats, 78 million dogs, 16 million birds and 160 million… Read More »
Will Medicare Fully Cover You in Your Golden Years?
Many retirees (or soon-to-be-retirees) have been living and saving under the assumption that Medicare would pay for a bulk of their medical costs during retirement, but a recent article in the Wall Street Journal reveals that counting on Medicare may not be the safest bet anymore. According to the article, one of the most important… Read More »
Republican Primary Inspires Talk of Trusts
If you follow current events at all it is impossible to ignore the fact that we are now in the thick of the Republican primary race—and that the Presidential election will not be far behind. With the political machine in full swing there have been quite a few news stories about the candidates’ financial backgrounds,… Read More »
How To Succesfully Choose a Nursing Home for Your Loved One
If and when the time comes to choose a nursing home—either for yourself or for a loved one—how will you know how to choose the right one? A person’s living situation often has a lot to do with how happy they are, so it is important to choose carefully and wisely. When you do begin… Read More »
The Flip Side of “Putting Your Affairs in Order”
Everyone knows that because 2012 is the last year on the Mayan calendar it is thought by some to be “the end of the world as we know it.” Most of us don’t believe that the end of the world is nigh, but that doesn’t stop us from contemplating how we’ve lived our lives, what… Read More »
Don’t Let Your Old Estate Plan Atrophy On The Shelf
Do you already have an estate plan? Or perhaps you don’t have an estate plan per se, but over the years you’ve collected all of what you feel are the necessary documents to provide security and protection for your family and your assets after your death? Well, you may want to take a moment to… Read More »
3 Steps to Help Protect Your Family and Your Future in 2012
We all want to ensure our loved ones are protected and provided for, but sometimes the process of doing so can appear overwhelming, and prevent you from even taking the first steps. When it comes to protecting your family and your future with an estate plan, the process can actually be as easy as 1…… Read More »
Consider A Trust For You and Your Family?
The answer to the title question is that just about every family can benefit from a trust. The rich and famous tend to utilize trusts because of the privacy they provide, the long-term asset protection, the tax benefits, and their flexibility; but each and every family, regardless of fame or income, can reap the exact… Read More »