This past week, countless parents posted back-to-school photos all over social media. Regardless of age or grade, parents lamented that time flies by too quickly. I’m feeling this, too; my youngest is in his last year of preschool, and the middle one is plotting with her friends to take over kindergarten. Wasn’t it just last month that we lugged diapers, …
The more things change the more they stay the same. Not long ago, we wrote about several celebrities who died without an estate plan. As we’ve seen, the media sensationalizes celebrities who have failed to plan for their death. Recently, the world grieved as Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. Despite her advisor’s recommendation …
As a parent of school age kids, keeping track of everyone’s schedules and to-do lists could be a full-time job. Besides lists, there are planners, and random sticky notes of tasks because yellow notes are a higher priority (right?) Get the kids to school, go grocery shopping, and… and…there’s something else on the list and one day I’ll figure out …
With March right around the corner, the most common question I get from my kids is “What are we doing for spring break?” This is one of the most popular questions being asked here in South Florida, not only by all school kids but by their busy parents who are in dire need of a vacation. Luckily, South Florida’s weather …
How long is my estate plan good for? This is one of the most frequently asked questions if you’ve already created an estate plan. From one point of view, your plan is good until you either revoke or decide to change it. A different point of view treats your estate plan as a living document that should be adjusted and …
Many people consider a prized possession to be jewelry passed down from previous generations, a collectible automobile, or fine art that decorates their home. For some people, their most prized possession is their four-legged companion and riding partner, their horse. We never want to face the inevitable question of what will happen to our possessions and loved ones if we …
The horrible sexual abuse that young athletes endured have resulted in new regulations that seek to prevent such tragedies from happening. It seems there had been cultures of silence, or at least confused quiet, in the USA Gymnastics, USA Swimming, and the US Olympic Committee. As part of the response, Congress mandated that the U.S. Center for SafeSport (“Safesport”) become …
For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. These wedding vows are the foundation of most marriages, but they also represent how we as estate planners create strategies for married couples. Each personal situation drives the type of tools used for the estate planning. There is no one size fits all approach and when it comes to a married couple, …
If you have begun creating your estate plan, you may feel as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. Many people who have been avoiding making a will find that completing the task gives them great peace of mind. However, what you may not realize is that a will isn’t the end of your estate plan—it’s just the beginning. …
Parents feel many conflicting emotions on their children’s 18th birthdays. The young people you raised will be moving on—out of the house, on to college, or even raising children of their own. As they navigate young adulthood, your children will still need your advice and assistance—but without certain documents, you may not legally be able to give it to them. …
