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Honoring Your Sacrifice: Estate Planning Essentials for Military Families

Each year on November 11, the nation pauses to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who’ve served in ...

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Latest Articles

There is no shortage of advice flying around about estate planning, much of it from people who aren't even lawyers. Get insight on the popular pitfalls and how emerging economic shifts like cryptocurrency can affect your plan.

4 Warning Signs Your Elderly Relative Faces Financial Abuse | PFL®

Some of the most disturbing crimes against the elderly involve financial exploitation. While physical abu...

Retirement Planning: Suze Orman's Age Advice | PFL

If you’re middle aged or older, it’s likely that one of your most pressing concerns is not having enough ...

The Real Planned Parenthood: Platonic Parenting

Divorce can be one of the most unpleasant—and often traumatic—experiences of your life, especially if you...

4 Cryptocurrency Risks and Scams and How to Navigate Them — Part 2

Last week, we shared the first part of our series on cryptocurrency risks and scams, and if you haven’t r...

Can My Will Be Contested?

Q: Can my will be contested? Concerned testator-- A: Dear Concerned: Creating a will should give you peac...

4 Cryptocurrency Risks and Scams and How to Navigate Them — Part 1

It’s no secret that Bitcoin and other brands of cryptocurrency are one of the hottest new investment oppo...

New Bill is Potential Game Changer for Your Family’s Tax Strategy

UPDATE: The new tax bill has been signed into law, so for information on the bill's final provisions and ...

Pay For a Loved One’s Education With an Education Trust Fund | PFL®

Today’s parents are all too familiar with the budget-busting cost of funding a child’s college education....

Want to Be an Awesome Parent? Stop Stressing and Spend More Time on Self-Care

All parents have undoubtedly felt guilty at some point for not spending enough time with their children. ...

What Will Happen to My Pet in a Natural Disaster?

Q: What will happen to my pet in a natural disaster? Pet Parent-- A: Dear Pet Parent: In the wake of natu...

Tax Benefits of Buying a Second Home

Buying a second home can provide you with a place to relax, unwind, and escape from it all. It can also p...

Ready to Write Your Will? Consider This Before You Go It Alone or Online.

A last will and testament is the most commonly thought of document when it comes to an estate plan. But, ...

Managing Excess Belongings: A Guide for the Downsizing Generation | PFL®

As the baby boomer generation ages—and downsizes—more and more adult children will be tasked with going t...

Weathering the Storm: How Families Can Plan for Natural Disasters

Planning for natural disasters is more than just stocking up on canned food and water. In a natural disas...

How Can Snowbirding Help Me Save on Taxes?

Q: How can snowbirding help me save on taxes? Recent Retiree-- A: Dear Retiree: Snowbirding is a great wa...

How to Ensure Your Pets Are Protected in the Event of Your Death or Incapacity

If you have pets, you probably want to make sure they are well-taken care of, if anything happens to you....

The Ten Richest Families in America and Their Rise to Riches

Self-made millionaires are not uncommon in the dotcom era, but their fortunes pale in comparison to those...

The Pitfalls of DIY Wills: Lessons Learned from a Florida Probate Case

DIY wills are becoming more prevalent as legal services can now be accessed easily online. For better or ...

Easy Mistakes to Avoid When Passing Assets to Your Child

Setting up a trust fund for your children can ensure that the money you are leaving behind for them is ta...

What Does Transfer on Death Mean?

Q: What does transfer on death mean? Prudent Planner-- A: Dear Prudent: Transfer on death (TOD) is a meth...

What to Do With Surplus Cash: Pay Down Debt, Spend or Invest?

When you come into a cash surplus from a company bonus, a tax refund, an inheritance or something similar...

How Legal Planning Helps Build a Strong Blended Family

Yours, mine and ours … in today’s modern family, it’s oh so common. The blended family is the product of ...

Financial + Legal Planning for Unmarried Couples: Should You Legally Marry or Not?

While the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision to legalize same-sex marriage in the U.S. making it po...

Planning Pays Off: An Illustrative Look at Carrie Fisher’s Semi-Failed Estate Plan

Whether your estate is modest or movie star worthy, the value of a good estate plan, properly handled, ca...

What’s the best way to save for college?

Q: What’s the best way to save for college? --Planning Parent A: Dear Planning: Saving for college is a d...

Navigating Transfer on Death Deeds and Living Trusts | PFL

Perhaps you’ve heard from a well-meaning friend or advisor that you can use an inexpensive Transfer on De...

How to Buy Life Insurance Like a Pro | PFL®

Life insurance is a purchase only made once or twice in a lifetime, so it is common to be unaware of the ...

Planning to Protect Your Assets

Asset protection planning is an important step to take in safeguarding your hard-earned assets from being...

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the Blockchain -- What Happens When You Die?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about Bitcoin. But, you may not know what i...

The Real Cost of Caring

Dealing with the financial stressors of caring for an aging loved one can affect your ability to provide ...

Do I need my estate planning documents reviewed by an attorney?

Q: Do I need my estate planning documents reviewed by an attorney? --Estate Planning Novice A: Dear Novic...

How “Shopping Around” for An Estate Plan Could Leave Your Family With an Expensive, Unintended Mess

Maybe you’ve heard that before investing in a professional service you should “get three estimates.” Whil...

Think Your Salary Can Bring You Safely to Retirement? Think Again.

In the sea of financial planning wisdom, there are too few messages about the importance of mindset. Gone...

Divorcing? Here's What You Should Know About How it May Affect Your Trust

Trusts vary in their structure, funding, and terms, so it’s hard to know how divorce will impact your tru...

Tax Lessons to be Learned from Celebrity Estate Plans

A celebrity's image and likeness can continue to produce considerable income after death. This type of in...

Why You Should Never Buy Your Will From Living Social or Groupon

Of the handful of major life events that require your serious consideration, few are as emotionally charg...

What is a revocable living trust?

Q: What is a revocable living trust? --Conscientious Planner A: Dear Conscientious: Revocable living trus...

Facing Grief After the Death of a Loved One Can Be the Key to a Life of Health and Wholeness

If you have ever met someone who repeatedly sabotaged their life or seemed to have a hard time moving thi...

The Unexpected Costs of Caring for Elderly Parents In Your Home

Multi-generational households are becoming the new (or maybe it’s really old) in vogue way to handle the ...

Growing Family? Time to Audit Your Insurance Policies

As your family size grows, there is lots to prepare for and consider. Welcoming a new family member can b...

Your Rights as the Parent of a Young Adult - What to Know When a Medical Crisis Hits

As a parent, you are most likely quite accustomed to managing the legal and medical affairs of your child...

Commit to Your Estate Plan Before Committing to a Trip Away

If you are planning a vacation, you probably have a lot to prepare for before you get away. Between struc...

How should I update my estate plan before I remarry?

Q: How should I update my estate plan before I remarry? -Betrothed spouse to be A: Dear Betrothed: Everyo...

What Happens to Your Body When You Die? The Choice Can Be Yours

Many of us are too afraid of death to carefully consider what happens to our bodies after we die. Unfortu...

How (and Why) to Disinherit a Child or Grandchild | PFL®

Completely disinheriting a child or grandchild should be reserved for extreme circumstances. And, if thos...

Recently Divorced? Here’s Why You Should Put Aside Your Differences Come Tax Season

Divorce can wreak havoc on your finances. But what many divorced couples don’t realize is that they can e...

Generational Wisdom: 32 Questions To Learn From Your Loved Ones | PFL®

What can we learn from earlier generations? Quite a bit, says Brendon Burchard, but only if we ask the ri...

Decisions for Incapacitated Persons Without a Living Will | PFL®

Q: How are decisions made for an incapacitated person without a living will? --Concerned family member A:...

Leaving Without a Plan: Prince Didn't Leave a Will & Here's Why You Should

Even after death, celebrities are highly publicized for their mistakes, many of which we make ourselves. ...

Defining the Legal Relationship Between Grandparents and Their Grandchildren

Raising a grandchild (or even spending a lot of time with your grandchild while his or her parents work) ...

How Can I Plan for a Strategic Retirement?

Are you approaching retirement? Not sure how you can ensure a smooth transition from working life to reti...

The Future of Finances: How to Teach Your Kids to Be Money Savvy

Part of being an enlightened parent is being thoughtful about how we teach our kids about adult life. Of ...

What is legal guardianship?

Q: What is legal guardianship? --Concerned parent A: Dear Concerned: Broadly defined, a legal guardian is...

When Duty Calls: Navigating the Sandwich Generation with Ease

The average age of parents raising children in the US continues to rise, leaving many middle-aged America...

Spring Cleaning For Your Legal and Financial Affairs

Spring has officially sprung and that means it’s spring cleaning time. Shake out the rugs, clean out the ...

Think Your 401(k) Is Flexible? 6 IRA Benefits Your 401(k) Doesn’t Have

When it comes to retirement plans, IRAs and 401(k)s provide many of the same benefits. But in certain sit...

Watch Out for This Predatory Phone Scam

Today, even the most conscientious can fall victim to phone scams. Claiming everything from free cruise v...

Estate Planning and Divorce: Incapacity, Death and Alimony Considerations

If you are considering a divorce, it’s critical to understand the impact of your divorce on what would ha...

How can I provide for my pet in my estate planning?

Q: How can I provide for my pet in my estate planning? --Concerned Pet Owner A: Dear Concerned: Many peop...

Estate Planning Essentials for Parents

A comprehensive estate plan can protect the things that matter most. For many, this means their property ...

Planning for the Care of Your Pet: How to Include Your Pet in Your Estate Plan

If your pet is beloved as a family member, you likely want to ensure that he or she will be well cared fo...

Estate Taxes in Trump’s America

Donald Trump has proposed a radical tax reform agenda for his presidency. Part of this reform is his inte...

(Re)Defining Family: Estate Planning for the Post-Nuclear Family

Blended families, unmarried couples, assistive reproductive technology (ART) and same-sex unions and marr...

What will happen to my assets when I die?

Q: What will happen to my assets when I die? --Concerned Family Member A: Dear Concerned: Many people won...

How to Make Your First Million by Age 40

Being in your 20s or 30s doesn’t mean financial success is decades away. In fact, earning big money is of...

Does Your Parent Need Help With Finances? Start Here

Caring for an aging parent is a common challenge for Baby Boomers, and now even Gen-X’ers and Millennials...

Three Health Care Documents You Need to Include in Your Estate Plan

Decisions about your health care are some of the most important you will ever make. Don’t put off making ...

How to Incorporate Family Values in Your Estate Planning

Baby boomers know money isn’t the only important aspect of estate planning. A 2012 study released by the ...

How a Personal Injury Lawsuit Affects My Government Benefits? | PFL®

Q: How can a personal injury lawsuit or other settlement affect my government benefits? --Concerned Plain...

Power of Attorney - What is it and Is it Enough?

Power of attorney (POA) is a document that grants a specific person, called an agent, the authority to ma...

How Common Assets Impact Your Child's Financial Aid Eligibility | PFL®

Financial aid is a valuable resource for students and their families. And sending a child off to college ...

Is Your Family “Too Young” to Need an Estate Plan?

Young families face different estate planning needs and challenges than those who have had a long life be...

Alert: If This Language Is In Your Trust, Your Spouse Could Be Screwed Over When You Die … Check Your Plan Today!

If you created an estate plan that includes a living trust, you must review it to determine if it contain...

How to Live Before You Die

In Steve Jobs’ 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University, he said: “Remembering that I’ll be dead s...

What Happens to My 401K When I Die?

Q: What Happens to My 401K When I Die? --Concerned Employee A: Dear Concerned: For many working-age adult...

Estate Planning After Marriage Equality: What All Couples Should Know

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex couples nationwide f...

Why You Need to Update Your Estate Plan After These Life Events

Too many estate plans are created and then quickly forgotten, put on a shelf, and never looked at again. ...

How to Discuss Estate Planning with Aging (or Sick) Loved Ones - Pt. 2

In our last newsletter, we shared the first part of our article on how to discuss estate planning with ag...

How to Discuss Estate Planning With Aging (or Sick) Loved Ones - Part 1

Someone you love is aging. Or maybe, facing a potentially terminal illness. And you know it’s time for th...

How can I be financially ready to retire when the time comes?

Q: How can I be financially ready to retire when the time comes? -- Concerned Worker A: Dear Concerned: M...

Can Facing Your Death Actually Increase Happiness During Life?

Bhutan is an independent state in Southeast Asia, bordered by China to the north and India to the south. ...

Life Changes that Require an Update to Your Estate Plan

Even if you do not have an estate plan that you’ve created, the State has one for you. And it’s likely on...

Tax Lessons From The Clintons: How To Maximize Your Savings | PFL®

In anticipation of the election and in response to public demand, Hillary and Bill Clinton have released ...

What Is Elder Abuse and How Can You Keep Yourself (or Your Parents) Safe?

One day, you will be an elderly person, you hope. Maybe you are already there. Or, your parents are. And,...

Supporting Your LGBTQ+ Grandchild: Steps to Show Love & Acceptance | PFL®

Q: I just found out that my granddaughter is homosexual. I’m crushed. What should I do? -- Anguished Gran...

End-of-Life Communication and Care: A Struggle Most Physicians Encounter

Just as it is difficult for many of us to talk about our ultimate death, it is also difficult for doctors...

Khan Academy Reinforces Critical Education Skills - for Free!

The quality of the education a child receives through public or private school systems can vary greatly. ...

Name Legal Guardians for Your Kids for Free On This Website

One of the hardest things to do as a human being is to acknowledge our mortality. Some people even seem t...

Legal Rights of Grandparents: In Honor of National Grandparents Day

When all is ideal in a family, the bond between grandparent and child is a special one. Maybe you’ve even...

The Four Tricky Cons of 2016

Electronic technology has brought about tremendous benefits for today’s society. We can access goods, ser...

Is it true that things I tell my lawyer are confidential?

Q: Is it true that things I tell my lawyer are confidential? -- Concerned Client A: Dear Concerned: To re...

Permission To Love Your Children

This is your letter of permission to go ahead and simply love your children. Put down those expectations ...

Can Family Caregiving Change Your Reputation (and Self-Perception) For the Better?

Are you the unappreciated black sheep in your family? Have you wished you could redeem your reputation an...

Five Reasons To Never Give An Outright Inheritance To Your Children - and What to Do Instead!

If you’re like me, you want to leave an inheritance for your children. It’s likely part of what you are w...

Conscious Money Challenge: Know How You Are Invested

If you have money invested in the stock market, whether through a retirement account or a straight broker...

How to Continue Your Family Values for Generations

Most of us want to make a mark in the world. That’s a big part of what gives our lives meaning. And wheth...

Should I be concerned that my divorce will hurt my kids?

Q: Should I be concerned that my divorce will hurt my kids? -- Concerned Parent A: Dear Concerned: Many p...

Work-Life Balance: A Personal Perspective

Pick up the latest copy of just about any business magazine, and you’re likely to find at least one artic...

Clean Burials: New Mushroom Suit Removes Body Toxins

If you have ever wondered about the impact your body will have on the environment when you are gone, you ...

Writing Your Life Story: Why

How often do you wish you knew more about your family? When we’re young, we don’t necessarily pay attenti...

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