General Estate Planning

While the current estate tax exemption is quite high, a closely held family business may put your estate over the limit. Careful planning is necessary to lower or completely avoid the tax, and [...]

In most states a “Transfer of Death” account, also known as a “Pay on Death Account” (commonly called a POD or TOD account), is an account at a financial institution that allows payment of the [...]

A number of tax proposals being considered in Congress could significantly affect gifting and estate plans for those with larger estates — over $3.5 million. If you’re in that [...]

When interest rates are low, intrafamily loans can be a good way to assist a relative (typically a child) with purchasing a house or a family business, and in certain circumstances they can be [...]

Directed trusts can be a useful estate planning tool, allowing you to place your family’s assets in a trust but benefit from the expertise of an advisor who knows more about the handling of [...]

Do you have a will? A durable power of attorney? A health care proxy? If so, no reason to read on. If not, why not? Failure to create an estate plan risks causing discord in your family for [...]

More and more of the music, movies, and books we own exist only online, in digital form. What happens to these collections after the owner dies? Surprisingly, while you may want your heirs to [...]

When my daughter moved to Texas and began to build her own family, she never imagined that family would include four dogs. When she decided to move home, she and her husband packed up their [...]

June carries us into the height of wedding season and what a treat it is to attend weddings in person again – to laugh, dance, and hug with friends and family! Marriages are a wonderful union [...]

Long-term care involves not only a loss of personal autonomy; it also comes at a tremendous financial price. Proper planning can help your family prepare for the financial toll and protect assets [...]