Estate Planning: An Unexpected Source of Total Wellness

 “Wellness is a connection of paths: knowledge and action.” #1: Your mind is the epicenter of your health and well-being. It’s so crucial to try to live mindfully, meditate and maintain balance. Yet, worry still happens to everyone. An estate plan takes away worry about what would happen to your kids if something happened to you. Peace of mind this Continue Reading →

Trusts, in Plain English

I admit it: Legal terminology is confusing. Not only are some words foreign outside of the estate planning world, but sometimes “normal” words carry a legal definition you would have never guessed. And sometimes, the same legal concept has more than one phrase used to describe it. Take “Living Trust” and “Revocable Trust” and “Revocable Living Trust,” for example – Continue Reading →

5 Reasons to be thankful for your parents’ trust

A last will is one of the most well-known estate planning documents, and yes, everyone should have one. But if a last will is the only document in your parents’ estate plan, you’ll be in for a (not so great) surprise when they pass. If your parents leave a living trust instead, count yourself lucky—everything will be much easier for you. Here Continue Reading →

10 Tips for choosing the best guardian

You’re a parent of minor children—do you know what would happen to your children if something happened to you? Maybe one of your siblings would step in or perhaps an aging parent. Maybe you were rushing to get out of town last year and sent a quick email to a friend or family member saying who you’d want as guardian Continue Reading →

An unexpected source of total wellness

If you believe in taking good care of your mind, body, family and finances, then estate planning is the cornerstone to protect it all. Here’s how estate planning affects each one. Your mind is the epicenter of your health and well-being. It’s so crucial to try to live mindfully, meditate and maintain balance. Yet, worry still happens to everyone. And Continue Reading →

Don’t let life insurance proceeds go missing

It’s impossible to know what life has in store—just ask Joan Rivers who went in for a routine surgery recently and suffered cardiac arrest that led to her passing. It’s uncertain when the inevitable will happen but you can at least provide some certainty about the future of your children and loved ones. Life insurance is a must if you’re Continue Reading →

7 Reasons your estate plan may be outdated

Estate planning is not a once-in-a-lifetime check-the-box thing. What is for sure is that your life is going to change and the law is going to change. A variety of things can come up that will make your estate plan outdated, and any time this happens, the best course of action is calling your estate planning attorney to chat about Continue Reading →

7 Must-do’s before your summer vacation

The summer season is here! And that means travel and vacations are high on everyone’s list. One thing that might not make it to a typical traveler’s to-do list is estate planning—but it couldn’t be more important as you prepare to enjoy the sandy beach or Rocky Mountains. Americans spend more time planning their vacation each year than planning their Continue Reading →

How to get creative with trusts – even for plants!

Want to read a news story that will make you smile? Check out the Wall Street Journal’s recent story about a woman’s trust that provides funds for her house plant. Ronna Scoratow has no companion that has been by her side longer than her 42-year-old philodendron. It may very well be that her plant outlives her. What would happen to Continue Reading →

How to pass along family heirlooms peacefully

A recent Wall Street Journal article noted that boomers and seniors are becoming more interested in passing along family heirlooms and history, leaving a legacy for future generations that extends beyond money. As the Wall Street Journal reported, it may be tempting to think “the economic downturn, steep health-care costs and longer lives may mean less money is being left Continue Reading →