Most people do not realize the power of beneficiary designation: Your beneficiary designation may result in family members becoming disinherited, or the government may restrict the amount of funds designated to an 18-year-old heir. A few examples of what to…
This article has two purposes: First, to highlight the typically unknown risk of owning a home that lacks full-time residents. Second, to explain the difference of what it means for a home to be either unoccupied or vacant. The nuances of these two…
No matter in what state you reside, gun control is a timely topic. Gun laws continually change, and if you are a gun owner, you have a responsibility to remain aware of the laws when it comes to your estate…
I bet you thought that this column was going to be about taxes—fooled you! Just when you thought that the government could not get any more intrusive and over-reaching, we now learn that Pennsylvania is the first state to make…
You may have purchased a life insurance policy 5, 10, 20, even 30 years ago under the impression that you purchased a “whole life” insurance policy. The life insurance industry unfortunately has become so complex that it is highly unlikely…
No parent dreams of their family being torn apart when their estate is settled. Rather, they hope the passing of life is a time of solace and family unity providing comfort after the loss of a parent. In recognizing that the…
Most parents want to give their children gifts, but what gift would you consider to be the greatest gift? Ideas like cash, a new car, a big family trip, or a really cool shared experience (like skydiving) might come to…
If you are not a lawyer or financial planner and haven’t heard of the term “Digital Estate”, you’re not alone. This new buzz term has been causing a great deal of confusion lately, even for those in the industry because…
The thing that encourages me the most about being a fee-only advisor, without the ability to sell commission-based insurance or investment products, is that we can focus on providing the most knowledgable advice for the client. Too often I see…
Many equate estate planning with creating a will. So, when you finally get around to writing your will-- a task most of us prefer avoiding rather than addressing, you feel satisfied that you took care of everything. Unfortunately, though, you…