Resources

Recently, a colleague asked me about re-titling qualified and non-qualified accounts into a revocable trust.  My reply after advising her that “my response is informal, general information…I do not know the specific details about your clients’ assets…you need to consult an attorney who can give you targeted advise before you move any assets…” was as…

Review Your Beneficiary Designations Regularly, Please!  (your will does not control who gets your IRA…) All too often during estate planning engagements, we discover problems with beneficiary designations made for clients’ retirement accounts or life insurance policies.  And, often clients think that their will makes their IRA pass, for example, to their current spouse, when…

What to Expect from your Social Security Disability Claim Applying for Social Security Disability benefits is a long, complicated ordeal for most applicants. While we always advise that you would be best served by hiring an experienced Social Security Disability Attorney to guide you through the process, this article will provide some basic information about…

Do you have a financial plan that incorporate the following key areas?  Estate Planning:  Provides guidance to help you get your financial house in order. Review your assets for proper ownership and beneficiaries. Consult and coordinate your plan with your attorney, CPA, and other advisors. Address the financial impact of lifestyle changes (death, divorce, disability,…

I wonder if folks get tired of hearing me say this, so I’m including a link to an article that will do it for me.  You may need to copy and paste the link.  Enjoy!  Best, Anna http://www.forbes.com/sites/russalanprince/2014/07/03/why-you-should-update-your-estate-plan/

What is a Power of Attorney?  A Power of Attorney (“POA”) is a tremendously useful legal document that allows you to delegate someone to have authority to act for you.  That person may be called your “agent” or “attorney-in-fact.”  A Power of Attorney may be described as general, limited (or special), springing, and/or immediately-effective, durable,…

My colleagues gasp when I announce proudly that I enjoy making house calls.  But it’s true.  When I started out, it was a necessary way to building my business.  But at this point, I keep making house calls for other reasons. Clients feel more comfortable at home. Especially older folks and those with physical problems…

Please Find Out 1)  What You Pay for Money Management and 2) Whether (or Not) That Person a Fiduciary My approach to estate planning doesn’t just involve drafting documents.  Don’t get me wrong…the documents are important.  But attention to the underlying assets can have an even greater effect on “who gets what–when, how, and how…

If you have been named as an agent under a power of attorney or appointed trustee of a trust, you have duties and responsibilities that you must understand.  Frequently, I advise clients about their duties as an agent managing someone else’s money.  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provides free booklets for financial caregivers that…

The answer might surprise you. Clients often come to us asking specifically for a living trust-based estate plan. This notion generally stems from the advice of a friend, advisor, or something that they have read about somewhere. There are a wide range of opinions about the pros and cons of planning using revocable living trusts.…