You can stuff a lot of money into a 529 college savings plan now and then do the same thing at the beginning of 2014 – a strategy that advisers say they are seeing many wealthy clients adopt this year. Funding a 529 College Savings Plan before year-end is a great gifting strategy your college-bound […]

As the year comes to a close, it is time to consider how we show our generosity, so we can allocate our resources deliberately and effectively. There is still time to give those charitable gifts for 2013! And there are countless worthy causes to choose from.  So the question is: do the charities you select […]

Here are the must-do estate-plan tasks you should get done now. What’s on your list of New Year’s resolutions? Yes, it’s that time of year yet again. In addition to the normal list of diet, exercise and the sort — did “estate planning” make the list for 2014? We all know that an estate plan […]

“You cannot predict what may happen between now and receiving an inheritance,” said Ireland. “The earlier you start preparing, the more financially secure your own retirement is likely to be.” Planning for an inheritance can be a tricky endeavor, for both givers and receivers. On one side, the giver has to make appropriate arrangements for […]

Some wealthy people are taking another look at survivorship insurance. The relatively obscure product, also known as “second-to die” insurance, insures two lives, usually spouses, with one policy.Like its name indicates, the product pays out the benefit after the death of the second insured. Where there is a risk and an attending financial exposure you […]

To ensure your exit goals are met and your family relationships remain intact, it’s important to clarify the family succession process right from the start. When you are a family business owner looking to pass the torch, the business is typically your greatest asset and likely the center of the family’s wellbeing. You cannot afford […]

Generally, the best candidates for a prenup, besides anyone with substantial assets, are those going into a second or third marriage, says Bonnie Sockel-Stone, a marital and family attorney in Miami, Florida. A prenup proposal is a bit of an oxymoron. With a marriage proposal, you are pledging to love and care for your future […]

For many people, estate planning is both a private matter and morbid topic – not something that parents want to discuss with their adult children. While having such conversations takes a lot of courage, families that speak freely about these delicate issues can avoid problems down the line. Thinking about your estate, setting up your […]

Aging parents need to establish a plan and communicate it with their adult kids — and adult kids need to ask their parents about their finances. In our own lives, our parents start and run the money conversations from that first allowance to gearing up for those college loans and beyond. Later in life, the […]

“What we’ve found is that donors give — and give more — when confident the money will actually make a difference.” The giving season is upon us as the end of 2013 is near. Charitable donations are an important way of giving back. If you are ready to give back or help out, just how […]