What the National Debt Ceiling Extension Means for Your Family
September 26, 2023
You’ve probably heard about the national debt ceiling and its recent extension, but you might wonder what...
Read MoreYou’ve probably heard about the national debt ceiling and its recent extension, but you might wonder what...
Read MoreThere 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.
You’ve probably heard about the national debt ceiling and its recent extension, but you might wonder what...
If you are going to take investment and estate planning advice from anyone, Warren Buffett is likely one ...
This week, before the year ends, consider these 5 financial, retirement and tax actions you may need to t...
Although the end of the year can be a hectic time, it’s also the deadline for your family to implement a ...
People often come to us curious—or confused—about the role trusts play in saving on taxes. Given how freq...
This August, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) announced...
If you have started to save for your child or grandchild’s college education, it’s worth considering whet...
If you have started to save for your child or grandchild’s college education, it’s worth considering whet...
The road to retirement is a long one, and as with any journey, it helps to have a few key milestones alon...
In today’s highly litigious society you are at near-constant risk for costly lawsuits—even if you’ve done...
Although many strategies to save on your income taxes must be locked in before the end of the year, there...
Unless you’ve created a proper estate plan, when you die many of your assets must first pass through the ...
If you are running a business, it’s easy to give estate planning less priority than your other business m...
Life insurance is a key component of your family’s estate plan, offering those who depend on you for thei...
If you are like many homeowners, your home is likely your family’s most valuable and treasured asset. In ...
NFTs, or “non-fungible tokens,” are the latest sensation in the cryptocurrency universe, or as we like to...
When you hear the words, “trust fund,” do you conjure up images of stately mansions and party yachts? A t...
As the host of the wildly popular The Joy of Painting TV series on PBS, Bob Ross became a pop-culture ico...
As the host of the wildly popular The Joy of Painting TV series on PBS, Bob Ross became a pop-culture ico...
You are likely well aware of the tax benefits that come from donating to charity during your lifetime—don...
Legendary hip hop artist DMX—born Earl Simmons—passed away on April 9 at age 50 after suffering a massive...
Legendary hip hop artist DMX—born Earl Simmons—passed away on April 9 at age 50 after suffering a massive...
Estate planning is an obvious concern for all parents, but if you have a child with special needs, it’s c...
Signed into law on March 11th, President Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) is ...
Signed into law on March 11th, President Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) is ...
2020 was a nightmarish year for many families. But thanks to recent legislation, you could see a silver l...
2020 was a nightmarish year for many families. But thanks to recent legislation, you could see a silver l...
Within the past year, a combination of new legislation and the recent change of leadership in the White H...
With COVID-19 still raging, your 2020 holiday season may not feature the big family get-togethers of year...
Today, we’re seeing more and more people getting divorced in middle age and beyond. Indeed, the trend of ...
No matter who you vote for on November 3rd, you may want to start considering the potential legal, financ...
No matter who you are voting for on November 3rd, you may want to start considering the potential legal, ...
Although you may have just filed your 2019 income taxes in July, now is the time to start thinking about ...
The days of working for a single employer for decades until you retire are over. Today, you are much more...
If you’re counting down the days to your wedding, divorce is probably the last thing you and your fiancé ...
There’s nothing like a major change in the economic climate to make you rethink your day job. “Business a...
Maybe you, like many of us, have been raised to think that the safest way to live in the working world is...
With the risks still posed by COVID-19, we all need to face the possibility that we could get sick, even ...
If you or your parents have a retirement account, (or any investment accounts for that matter) now is the...
It’s the beginning of the month, and bills are coming due. If you are stressed out, it’s important that y...
As you already know, the COVID-19 pandemic means nothing is business as usual. Many states have implement...
If you have pets, my guess is that you love them as much as you do your children, but I’m also guessing t...
In many families, money still is not a typical dinner table discussion, but we think it should be. Surpri...
In the first part of this series, we discussed the potential ramifications the SECURE ACT has for your es...
On January 1, 2020, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act) went into ...
The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) made sweeping changes to exemptions, deductions, and credits for your ...
As we head into the peak of the holiday season, you’re likely spending more time than usual surrounded by...
As we head towards the end of the year, we’re fast approaching the deadline to implement your family’s ta...
Following the death of the policy holder, the way in which proceeds from a life insurance policy are paid...
Whether it’s called “The Great Wealth Transfer,” “The Silver Tsunami,” or some other catchy-sounding name...
Last week, we discussed the benefits of a unique estate planning vehicle known as Lifetime Asset Protecti...
In the first part of this series, we discussed the dangers of reverse mortgages for senior homeowners. He...
If you’ve watched TV lately, you’ve likely seen ads touting the benefits of reverse mortgages. The spots ...
While most people assume only the uber wealthy need to worry about asset protection, those with less weal...
Selecting a beneficiary for your life insurance policy sounds pretty straightforward. You’re just decidin...
Like many taxpayers, if you’ve already filed your federal income taxes for 2018, you may be surprised to ...
Unlike most of your assets, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) do not pass to your family through a wi...
The recent death of the CEO of QuadrigaCX, a major cryptocurrency exchange in Canada, demonstrates a basi...
While some of those TV commercials for free credit-score report companies are pretty funny, having errors...
Retirement planning is one of life’s most important financial goals. Indeed, funding retirement is one of...
Some people assume that because they’ve named a specific heir as the beneficiary of their IRA in their wi...
If a friend or family member has asked you to serve as trustee for their trust upon their death, you shou...
If you have highly appreciated assets like stock and real estate you want to sell, it may make sense to u...
One of the biggest appeals of cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, is that it is decentralized, unregulated, and...
Whether you consider yourself wealthy or not, you need to think about how (and when) you’ll talk with you...
President Trump signed the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act bill into law on December 22, 2017, and the law incl...
If you’re middle aged or older, it’s likely that one of your most pressing concerns is not having enough ...
Last week, we shared the first part of our series on cryptocurrency risks and scams, and if you haven’t r...
It’s no secret that Bitcoin and other brands of cryptocurrency are one of the hottest new investment oppo...
UPDATE: The new tax bill has been signed into law, so for information on the bill's final provisions and ...
Today’s parents are all too familiar with the budget-busting cost of funding a child’s college education....
Buying a second home can provide you with a place to relax, unwind, and escape from it all. It can also p...
Planning for natural disasters is more than just stocking up on canned food and water. In a natural disas...
Self-made millionaires are not uncommon in the dotcom era, but their fortunes pale in comparison to those...
Setting up a trust fund for your children can ensure that the money you are leaving behind for them is ta...
When you come into a cash surplus from a company bonus, a tax refund, an inheritance or something similar...
While the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision to legalize same-sex marriage in the U.S. making it po...
Life insurance is a purchase only made once or twice in a lifetime, so it is common to be unaware of the ...
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about Bitcoin. But, you may not know what i...
In the sea of financial planning wisdom, there are too few messages about the importance of mindset. Gone...
Trusts vary in their structure, funding, and terms, so it’s hard to know how divorce will impact your tru...
Of the handful of major life events that require your serious consideration, few are as emotionally charg...
Multi-generational households are becoming the new (or maybe it’s really old) in vogue way to handle the ...
As your family size grows, there is lots to prepare for and consider. Welcoming a new family member can b...
Are you approaching retirement? Not sure how you can ensure a smooth transition from working life to reti...
Part of being an enlightened parent is being thoughtful about how we teach our kids about adult life. Of ...
The average age of parents raising children in the US continues to rise, leaving many middle-aged America...
Spring has officially sprung and that means it’s spring cleaning time. Shake out the rugs, clean out the ...
When it comes to retirement plans, IRAs and 401(k)s provide many of the same benefits. But in certain sit...
Donald Trump has proposed a radical tax reform agenda for his presidency. Part of this reform is his inte...
Being in your 20s or 30s doesn’t mean financial success is decades away. In fact, earning big money is of...
Caring for an aging parent is a common challenge for Baby Boomers, and now even Gen-X’ers and Millennials...
Power of attorney (POA) is a document that grants a specific person, called an agent, the authority to ma...
Financial aid is a valuable resource for students and their families. And sending a child off to college ...
Young families face different estate planning needs and challenges than those who have had a long life be...
If you created an estate plan that includes a living trust, you must review it to determine if it contain...
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex couples nationwide f...
In anticipation of the election and in response to public demand, Hillary and Bill Clinton have released ...
Electronic technology has brought about tremendous benefits for today’s society. We can access goods, ser...
If you have money invested in the stock market, whether through a retirement account or a straight broker...
If you’re like me, you want to leave an inheritance for your children. It’s likely part of what you are w...
How often do you wish you knew more about your family? When we’re young, we don’t necessarily pay attenti...
When you picture a “normal” family, what do you see? Is it the traditional notion of one male parent and ...
Those of us who work sometimes feel that we are doing our children a disservice. Sure, we bring home a pa...
You’ve spent your entire life building up your retirement account. It may even be the biggest asset you’l...
Much has been written about our nation’s need to help mothers in the workplace. Many benefits, such as ma...
Many of us like to fantasize about winning the lottery. We muse with our friends about how we might spend...
Did you know there are many steps that you can take to save money via your employment? Some of these stra...
To many people, living debt-free is a lifelong dream. It’s the picture of the easy life. Retired with no ...
It seems that we can’t turn on the television or radio without hearing an ad for a “reverse mortgage.” So...
To some degree or another, we are all a function of the social environments in which we were raised. Of c...
Did you get a holiday bonus from your employer? Or maybe you have a tax refund coming. If so, do you have...
As our parents and other loved ones age, they may need a little more attention from us. Parents, grandpar...
January 1 wipes the slate clean for your tax deductible charitable contributions. That might be a good ti...
The National Institute on Retirement Security states that the funds American workers have set aside for r...
Class action lawsuits are common in our court systems. Most everyone has received a notice in the mail of...
When I heard that Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, were donating 99 percent of their Fac...
Welcome back to the fourth and final article in our series on How to Raise Responsible Kids. You can read...
Welcome back to the second article in our series on How to Raise Responsible Kids. You can read part 1, w...
The holidays are traditionally the time for family gatherings, where generations come together and perfor...
Many parents want to know the best way to leave a home to their children. Before you make a plan, you sho...
In June, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, a highly publicized...
A trust is a legal creation set up to benefit someone or something. For example, some people set up trust...
The term “blended family” has become commonplace in our society and refers to a family where one or both ...
If you are in your “golden years” and are looking for ways to spread your wealth, you should consider the...
When you have a family member with special needs, it is important to understand that your estate planning...
The passing of family heirlooms from one generation to another should be welcome tradition in most famili...
Many parents believe that by adding a child’s name to a property deed, they can pass along the property o...
The assets you leave to your loved ones can either be a source of relief or, sometimes, a source of panic...
It’s no secret that a majority of Americans are ill-prepared for retirement. A recent Forbes.com post det...
It is natural for parents to want to treat their children equally when it comes to inheritances. However,...
If you’re like most Americans, you have a rich digital life. You may bank online, invest online and certa...
Traditionally, one of the primary reasons for establishing a living trust has been to avoid probate. But ...
A 2010 study conducted by the Investor Protection Trust found that more than seven million older American...
Current research shows that only about half of Americans have a will, and probably less than that have ch...
Once you have chosen the people you want to receive any of your assets -- either from a will, a trust, a ...
The poverty rate among seniors is rising, giving rise to the question of whether or not it is possible to...
April 15 is not only the deadline for filing your state and federal income tax returns, but also the dead...
The recession made many parents and grandparents into personal bankers, making loans to strapped children...
It’s no misnomer that a position with so much responsibility carries the name “trustee”. After all, you h...
Currently, it is estimated that 7 in 10 Americans will need some type of long-term care, with Medicaid ex...
Americans today are getting married later in life. Currently, the average age of a first marriage is 27 f...
Women outlive men, make less during their careers and have less in savings due to pay discrepancies and t...
A drama currently playing out in a French courtroom demonstrates that any elderly person can fall victim ...
Alzheimer’s Disease is in the news again thanks to Academy Award winner Julianne Moore’s performance in t...
When you hear the words, “trust fund,” do you conjure up images of stately mansions and party yachts? A t...
Famous comedienne, Joan Rivers, who died unexpectedly on September 4, 2014, from what is alleged to be a ...
Not many people would view the IRS as a charitable organization, but you might if you plan your gifting a...
Families of those with disabilities - physical or mental - are typically concerned with the best way to f...
A person who turns 65 today has a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care at some time in their...
Take a moment and consider how much of your life you live online. If you are like most of us, you bank, p...
According to the Investment Company Institute, the use of IRAs for retirement saving has increased in the...
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision has changed the way inherited IRAs are viewed when it comes to bankr...
Parents of children with special needs usually share one overriding concern: what will happen to my child...
If you have grandchildren - or are getting ready to welcome one like political power couple Bill and Hill...
Inherited wealth need not be “an albatross around the neck of the children” as Sting so succinctly put it...
When we think of vast family wealth, most of us know the name Cornelius Vanderbilt, the railroad and ship...
Whether you have a lost a spouse or partner through divorce or death, being thrust into singlehood can be...
You bring your children into the world with love. You raise them with love. If you’re going all the way a...
While most parents have the best intentions when it comes to teaching their children about handling finan...
It’s no surprise that Americans spend more time planning their summer vacations than they do planning the...
If you have young children, chances are that your summer activities include some careful planning to keep...
Rock musician Sting recently announced that his children will not inherit his estimated $300 million fort...
Do you know what it takes to be a real man? Although the expectations of both men and women have evolved ...
A new study from the Boston College Center on Wealth and Philanthropy shows that the greatest wealth tran...
Summer has officially arrived and for those of us fortunate enough to have a vacation home – whether it’s...
Most parents love their children unconditionally and want to do whatever they can to smooth life’s rough ...
The perfect gift for your child or grandchild on the occasion of their birth, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Sweet 1...
If you are like most Americans, you will probably be spending at least some of your vacation time this su...
A recent article in the New York Post about brothers battling over a painting from their uncle’s estate s...
Baby boomers are set to inherit up to $8.4 trillion over the next 15 years, according to The Center for R...
If you have been responsible enough to purchase a life insurance policy as added protection for your love...
Asset protection is not something most people think too deeply about. Most of us are busy trying to accum...
If you are fortunate enough to have a family vacation home, you know the emotional value it holds for eve...
A recent Wall Street Journal article noted that boomers and seniors are more interested in passing along ...
Everyone’s “to-do” lists seem to grow longer at this time of year, but yours is incomplete until you ask ...
Do you consider trusts to be instruments of the wealthy? While it is true that many Americans of means ha...
According to a recent Forbes article, Americans donated more than $316 billion to charity last year – and...
If you are helping an elderly parent or relative manage their finances or have been given a power of atto...
For many people, the basics of estate planning are simple enough, but for those families with loved ones ...
If you came to this page to find out what I’ll charge you for a Will or you are considering calling me (o...
A recent Economist article says a “perfect storm” of the poor economy of the past few years, resulting in...
If you are like most of the parents I know, you feel guilty. It’s what parents do. Whether your guilt is ...
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Windsor invalidated the federal Defense of Mar...
Three-day weekends like the Labor Day just passed give us all the tiniest snippet of a glimpse into what ...
Research shows that a majority of baby boomers will receive an inheritance at some time during the lives,...
Recently, 11 major life insurance companies agreed to pay $763 million to the heirs of deceased policyhol...
When you were a kid, your parents dreaded the talk they had to have with you. You know the one. Well, now...
If you make a mistake in naming beneficiaries for your life insurance policy, the people you love will en...
Unfortunately, money has a habit of bringing out the worst in people, even in the best of families. One o...
A will is one of the most basic estate planning documents, and everyone should have one to make sure that...
Retirement decision-making for boomers is very different than it was for our parents, when it was usually...
Many parents perceive a conflict between funding a child’s college education and building their own retir...
They call it the “poor man’s estate planning.” Put your child on the title to your deed and avoid probate...
In the process of becoming new parents, many couples become experts at planning – scheduling the birthing...
There have been a number of new rules and services implemented by the Social Security Administration for ...
While the fiscal cliff tax deal cut by Congress last month targeted primarily higher wage earners, every ...
Most of us conduct a lot of our personal business online these days, so the necessity of being savvy when...
Planning for a long and prosperous retirement is no longer just about the money; because of the recession...
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 that Congress passed on New Year's Day extended the Bush era tax...
In this article I will explain the difference between a Will-based plan and a Trust-based plan so you can...
When we talk about retirement, most of us are still thinking about our parents’ retirement and how they d...
With longer life spans comes the necessity to be sure your money is around at least as long as you are. L...
Even though the elections are over, no one knows what Congress will do by the end of the year when it com...
You’re never too young or too old to save for retirement; here are some guidelines by age group: Under 25...
According to a recent study by the Investor Protection Trust and Investor Protection Institute, the top t...
While most parents have the inclination to treat all their children equally when it comes to an inheritan...
What will happen to estate taxes in 2013? Right now, you may as well try to predict what the weather will...
You could be unintentionally reducing your family’s wealth potential if you do not properly designate the...
As a Personal Family Lawyer®, I am often asked to help people who inherit a retirement account. The actio...
There are a number of essential things a last will and testament can do for you, such as distribute famil...
As a Personal Family Lawyer®, I see many of the same estate planning mistakes made time and again by peop...
virginia
Let’s talk about your death . . . or incapacity. If something unfortunate happens, what will happen to your assets that you’ve worked so har...
Hi. I’m John W. Heck. I became a Personal Family Lawyer because I have seen the consequences of failed estate planning in my immediate famil...
In my practice, I focus on Family Protection, Wealth Preservation, and Value-Based Planning. I’m also experienced with wealth planning strat...
Lisa Brown Esq. is the principal attorney for Brown Law Offices. She received her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and ...
Naureen Rahman has been practicing law for over twenty years in the Maryland, DC-Metropolitan area. She has practiced across numerous sector...
I love being able to guide my clients through a unique planning process that empowers them to live a financially fulfilling life now while e...
Hi, I’m Pam Starsia. I became a Personal Family Lawyer because I’m passionate about educating and empowering people to create estate, life, ...
Kyle Nuttall. I graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2007. My first job out of law school was as a landman here in We...
I became a Personal Family Lawyer to help people like you and families like yours plan for the future. Facing the potential for incapacity a...
Your obligation-free consultation with a Personal Family Lawyer is just one click away. Don't let planning for the people you love wait another day.