If your pet is beloved as a family member, you likely want to ensure that he or she will be well cared for in the event of your incapacity or death. Without explicitly stated wishes, these furry family members could end up without a home of their own, if you die or become unable to care for them. To prevent …
As the average parenting age in the U.S. continues to rise, many middle-aged Americans move into a category known as the “sandwich generation.” So, exactly what is the sandwich generation? It’s a growing population of adults who become caregivers for their aging parents while they are still raising their own kids. The Rising Numbers of Sandwich Generation Caregivers According to …
Even after death, celebrities are highly publicized for their mistakes, many of which we make ourselves. This time last year, superstar musician Prince died suddenly, leaving no will, and the management of his substantial estate fraught with legal complications and added costs. It’s easy to assume that the wealthiest among us have all their ducks in a row, but it’s …
Divorce can wreak havoc on your finances. What many divorced (or divorcing) couples don’t always realize is that they can expect to face recurring financial challenges during tax season for years after the divorce is finalized. While divorce is often (unfortunately) adversarial, leaving both spouses with animosity in its wake; tax season is an opportune time to put aside those …
What if you woke up one day and twelve years had passed? While you might wonder how you grew a waist-length beard or hair, a significant part of your life disappeared. How did this happen? Last you knew, you were on track for a promising career, you were exercising (periodically), and were planning all sorts of travel, family, and life …
In our house, we always refer to ourselves as a modern family. We joke that the post office must get confused because we have three last names in the house. No, we have not taken in renters. We are a blended family. When I married my lovely wife, I was immediately blessed with step-fatherhood because my wife had a young …
Planning for the future of your children Parenting involves much planning. The simplicity of making your own plan, or one for you and your spouse or significant other, disappears when kids come into picture. Parents quickly realize that their role is more of logistician for the children than anything else. Indeed, when my children were still babies I was often …
And now, a short story that is more truth than fiction, you became a hero to your family when you created an estate plan. You took home a binder full of signed documents, put it in a safe place and forgot about it. Weeks, maybe months later, you vaguely remember that your lawyer mentioned something about funding your trust but …
After traveling around the world and meeting people from all walks of life, I noticed there is a prominent common denominator for all those with children – as parents we do almost everything we can for our kids. Picture this… Every morning you wake up at the crack of dawn, get breakfast going, and wake up the little munchkins to …
These two terms are often confused and used somewhat interchangeably. But, wills and trusts are two very different things. When talking about planning for the future, many people just think of a will. Developing a plan requires thinking about more than just what happens when you die. Understanding the important differences between these tools will help you to decide which …
