Is Your IRA Inheritor-Proof?
IS YOUR IRA INHERITOR-PROOF? The SECURE Act changed the rules—and most people have not caught up. You spent years building your IRA. You planned for the IRA to support your loved ones after you are gone. But thanks to the SECURE Act, your IRA might no longer work the way you intended. What the SECURE […]
The Document That Speaks When You Can’t: Why You Need An Advance Directive Now
The Document That Speaks When You Can’t: Why You Need An Advance Directive Now No one plans to get sick or injured, but when the unexpected happens, your doctors will need answers. Whether it’s a car accident, stroke, or a sudden illness, who should make medical decisions for you? Should they pursue every life-saving measure? […]
5 Things Your Fiduciary Needs to Know Before You Die
5 Things Your Fiduciary Needs to Know Before You Die You might think you have a solid estate plan – but if your fiduciary doesn’t know the basics, they could face legal and financial chaos after a loved one dies. Here are 5 things they need to know—before they’re in the middle of it: […]
Love & Estate Planning
Love and Estate Planning Go Together Like a Horse and Carriage Protect Your Wealth and Your Spouse with a Spousal Lifetime Access Trust February, the month of love, is the perfect time to show your loved ones that you care about their financial futures. While chocolates and flowers are nice gestures, a spousal lifetime access […]
How to choose your financial agent and your healthcare agent.
Who should be your financial agent and healthcare agent(s)? Maryland Guardianship statutes are the state’s default plan to appoint someone to make decisions for you if you can’t make them for yourself. This default plan, however, may not be the plan you would have chosen. Most importantly, Maryland statutes may give priority guardianship appointment to […]
How Should You Hold Title to Real Estate?
Your home is probably the most valuable asset you own. Yet most people do not think about how to hold title until the title company poses the question when you buy or refinance. But how you hold title to real estate deserves careful consideration because it has far-reaching effects. Let’s look at some common ways […]
Why Unmarried Partners Should Care About Estate Planning
According to a 2019 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 7 percent of surveyed adults were living with an unmarried partner, up from 3 percent in 1995.[1] More people such as yourself are entering long-term committed relationships without getting married. Unfortunately, many state and federal laws do not protect unmarried couples as they do […]
Single? Estate Planning is Still Essential
These days, more people are living single than ever before. In 1970, about one-third of Americans 15 and older were single, according to U.S. census data. In 2020, that number is closer to 50 percent. Whether never married, divorced, or widowed, single people need to pay just as much attention to their estate planning as […]
Estate Planning for Pet Parents
A Trust for Fluffy or Fido? Why Every Pet Parent Needs to Consider a Pet Trust Today Estate planning is about protecting what’s important to you. Although much of the traditional estate planning conversation focus on surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, many pet parents wonder about what could happen to their “furry children” after their death […]
Estate Planning for Snowbirds
Considerations Before Heading South for the Winter For many snowbirds, cooler weather means it is time to head south. If you are thinking about heading for warmer weather this winter, there are a few things you should consider before hitting the road. Which state do you consider your home? Your state of domicile […]
