Creating an estate plan often involves serious discussion with your advisors about tax planning, asset protection, and charitable giving; but it is important to remember that at its core, estate planning is about protecting your family—and as this article in the Wall Street Journal reminds us, for many people the word “family” also includes our… Read More »
Posts Tagged: Wall Street Journal
Is All This Really Necessary? . . . Yes, It Turns Out It Really Is
Jane Hodges of the Wall Street Journal recently jumped in where few would fear to tread—and lived to write about it. Where most people would prefer not to think about taxes and estate planning at all if they could help it, Hodges went through the process of creating an estate plan not only once, but… Read More »
What To Do If You Suspect Foul Play
The movies have given people certain expectations when it comes to a death in the family and probating a will; this Hollywood portrayal includes an attorney, a book-lined office, and the entire family assembled for a formal reading of the will which ends in shocked gasps as the entire fortune goes to an unknown and… Read More »
Sharing the Nest When Adult Children Fly Home
If you have adult children then you know that it’s more than just credit limits and investment accounts that have been affected by the slow economy; companies also are tightening their belts, and people of all ages are finding it harder to get (or keep) jobs. As a result, more and more adult children have… Read More »
If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is
“We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International programs… Your address attached to ticket number 2051146 won in the second category, you have therefore been approved to receive a sum of 1,000,000.00 Euro. Congratulations!!!” You probably recognize the paragraph above from a common mail/e-mail scam letter. This letter (or… Read More »
Internet Tools to Improve Your Personal Finances
The realm of personal finance is in the midst of being revolutionized. The crash on Wall Street has made many armchair investors mistrustful of professional financial advice, and many people are now taking the time to manage their own personal finances with the focus shifted from investing and earning to budgeting and saving. The problem… Read More »
The Wall Street Journal: Every Child Deserves a Little Trust
If you’ve been weighing the pros and cons of setting up a trust for your young child, wondering if you really have enough assets to warrant such an expense, you must read Stacey L. Bradford’s recent article in the Wall Street Journal entitled “Deciding if Your Kid Is Trust-Worthy”. In her article Bradford explains why… Read More »
Family Business? You Might Flip For A FLP
The Wall Street Journal says that family limited partnerships are finding renewed favor as an estate planning tool, thanks to recent tax-court decisions. In an article entitled “Covering Your Assets” Journal writer Mark Klimek asserts that despite some IRS opposition, tax court rulings in recent years have endorsed the use of FLPs when they are… Read More »