Estate planning and asset protection go together. Anyone creating an estate plan should consider them as complementary and necessary. A solid estate plan protects your assets after your death and also does the same when you are alive. Surprisingly, asset protection,...
Estate planning
Does your mom or dad need a guardian?
You don’t know exactly when it happened, but you’ve somehow switched roles with your mom or dad. Most of the time, you now feel more like the parent – coaxing them to take care of their bills and making sure that they’re eating right. At what point, however, do you...
Estate planning myths to avoid
Many people don't have an estate plan. In some cases, this is because they've been told certain myths about estate planning that they have believed. They may be making a critical mistake without even realizing it. As such, it's very important to identify what these...
Even responsible people can waste and misuse an inheritance
You likely expect that your children and grandchildren will value the inheritance that you leave them. You might imagine the musing what you leave behind when you died to cover their college tuition or help them make a down payment on their first home. Unfortunately,...
Plan for possible incapacitation with an advance directive
Can you imagine what it would be like if you were suddenly badly hurt and couldn’t speak for yourself? What about if you’re in surgery and the surgeon needs to find out what to do when they have more than one option? These two scenarios are just a couple of many that...
Can a trust help you pass on money to a charity?
If you would like to leave at least some of your assets to a charity, then you may want to consider using a charitable lead trust or charitable remainder trust to do so. Making charitable donations is a great way to help reduce the value of your estate and minimize...
Why many people need to consider asset protection planning
When people think of estate planning, they usually think about deciding who they want to inherit their various personal assets. However, estate planning should be a more comprehensive process than that. If you don't think ahead about personal expenses, debts and...
Can you disinherit a family member with careful estate planning?
Estate planning is a process that involves making unpleasant decisions for your own security and the protection of the people you love. Few financial decisions can be as heartbreaking and difficult as the determination to exclude someone from your last will....
Why trusts might be better than wills
Individuals wishing to distribute assets after they pass have a few options at their disposal. People can write wills that designate individuals and/or organizations that shall receive assets after they pass away. However, there are a variety of reasons why residents...
One tool can help you plan for taxes, debts and even Medicaid
Contrary to what a lot of people think, estate planning isn't just deciding whom to leave your property to when you die. Estate planning also involves protecting yourself if you become very sick or get hurt, making sure you and your family have necessary protections...
