The concept of trusts is another area within estate planning that can create a great deal of confusion for people unfamiliar with the law. In this article, we hope to clarify some of the different types so that, when you encounter them, you can avoid confusion and better determine which tools are appropriate for your situation.
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Ashes to Ashes: How David Bowie’s Estate Plan Missed A Beat
Your estate plan is just that. A plan. It's what you want to happen and like all plans, it's subject to change over time. Having a carefully thought-out plan is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones. David Bowie's estate plan was simple and to the point, but not necessarily the most suitable for his or his family's needs.
How to Be Financially Resilient
The worst way to invest is by acting on emotions. When unexpected changes occur in the economy, most people tend to panic. Financial resilience isn’t about avoiding all those bad things that can happen to you (for example, a pandemic, or getting laid off) because, inevitably, those things will happen. Instead, financial resilience is about being able to deal with those things when they do happen. In this post, we’ll detail how to build up your financial resilience.
One Love: Bob Marley’s Legacy
Bob Marley did not create a will, believing that such a document showed an inappropriate concern with earthly matters. He died at the age of 36, May 11th, 1981. The legal battles over his estate lasted for four decades.
Types of Life Insurance and How They Can Be Used in Estate Planning
Term life insurance is a good start for young professionals, but there are many more types of insurances out there, with better features, that can better benefit you, your family, and your beneficiaries. In this post we'll discuss term insurance, whole life insurance, universal life insurance, variable life insurance, variable universal life insurance, survivorship life insurance, first-to-die insurance, and single premium whole life insurance.
Can Your Last Wishes Be Overridden?
Princess Diana’s last wishes were largely ignored by her family. The executors of her estate, her mother and her sister, successfully petitioned the probate court for a "variance" of the will. To this day their motivation is unclear and the changes to her wishes were kept secret. Could this have been avoided?
5 Common Tax Planning Mistakes
Over the past few weeks, I've been asking my clients to send me their most recent tax return. By looking through their returns for missed opportunities and mistakes, there's a few patterns I've noticed.
An Estate Dispute Is No Joke
Estate disputes highlight the need to be clear about our intentions when it comes to estate planning. A well-drafted will can lead to a lot less heartache for your family.
Reviewing Your Estate Plan after the Death of a Loved One
The death of a loved one is never easy. Once you've had time to cope with all that has happened, it's important to update your estate plan in light of your loved ones death.
4 Ways to Leave Your Real Estate to Your Loved Ones (and the Pros and Cons)
It is important to understand that real estate can be owned in several ways, each of which has important legal consequences when it comes to leaving that real estate to your loved ones upon your death. Failing to understand how you legally own your real estate and how it will be passed on to your loved ones can lead to unintended, and often negative, consequences.