Stressed Businesswoman

“It seems like there seems to continue to be confusion about what it means to die using neurologic criteria,” said Cynda Hylton Rushton, professor of clinical ethics at Johns Hopkins University. Two recent medical cases are making headlines over the often blurry lines between life, death, medical ethics and the law. When confronting issues like […]

piggy bank

People who take good care of their children take good care of their money, and people who take good care of their money take good care of their children. Money can bring about both the good and the bad, depending on how one uses it. So you can imagine how concerning it is for parents […]

senior couple talking

Estate planning is a difficult topic to address because it requires you to think about a world without you in it. No one likes to reflect on their own demise, which is why many people simply put estate planning off for another day and only get around to it when the chips are down. A […]

human miniature standing over piled coins

“Money can be divided pretty evenly, but the teacup that grandma always used? Maybe there’s only a $2 value associated with that teacup, but because of the sentimental value and the emotions around it, that causes the controversy.” While it is easier to think about an inheritance as money or assets, don’t forget the other […]

piggy bank

One big advantage of the trusteed IRAs: IRA owners can prevent their beneficiaries from spending down the accounts right away. An IRA is a very powerful tool, if you use it right. Your IRA can essentially serve estate planning purposes beyond simple retirement funding in the form of a “trusteed IRA.” A good place to […]

Frustrated Businesswoman on the Phone

While your goal might be to attract the most qualified buyer that will pay the asking price and lead the company on a path of continued success, it is what you expect of your life post-sale that should constitute how you execute the deal. Done right, a business succession or sale requires the ability to […]

Mature couple with laptop

If your beneficiaries are out-of-date, when you die, your assets could go [to] the wrong people – a former spouse, for example – no matter what your will says. Often, the biggest mistakes we can make when it comes to our estate planning are also some of the easiest to prevent. For example, the consequences […]

Elderly lady typing on laptop

What would happen to your e-mail accounts if you suddenly died? Are familiar with the notion of a digital estate? What happens to your online bank accounts, emails, social media and your entire digital presence on the web when you pass away? Imagine a world without you in which your heirs cannot access your digital […]

piggy bank

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 […]

Pad of Paper and pen

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 […]