Category Archives for Established Families

Celebrity “Fail” Series… Fail #1…How Prince Failed at Estate Planning

Prince the musician and lack of estate planning

​In a world where people envy the lives of celebrities, there are some realities that might not make you quite so envious. One of these areas is Estate Planning. When we think they have it all together we often times discover ​this is not necessarily the case. When they pass away and their estate plans […]

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Estate Planning…Not Just for Parents or Grandparents…Important for Millennials and Younger Baby Boomers

millennial and estate planning

When I ask people who they think Estate Planning is for, the unanimous answer is Parents, Grandparents, Baby Boomers, or Business Owners. Rarely do they answer Millennials or Young Baby Boomers…this is a common mistake. Yet with the lifestyles and activities of these groups today, it is critically important they have an Estate Plan in […]

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10 Reasons Why Estate Planning is Much More Than Reducing Your Taxes

10 benefits of estate planning

​One of the most common “myths” or “misunderstandings” about Estate Planning is that it is all about “reducing your taxes.” While this is certainly a significant benefit of proper planning, it isn’t the only thing…in fact, it’s only 1 of MANY benefits you will gain from proper estate planning.Taxes are important…but not the only thingWhen […]

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Reasons Why Receiving an Inheritance Might be Trickier Than You Think

Inherited IRA account

It has been estimated that more than $41 trillion will be transferred to heirs in the United States over the next 50 years. This is the largest transfer of wealth in U.S. history.  Are you entitled to some of this pot of money? If you are, there are some things you should be aware of […]

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Expect the Unexpected and Planning is the Cure for the Unexpected

Charlotte Fox mountaineer

Charlotte Fox was one of the most adventurous women I have heard about. She was a serious mountain climber…acclaimed for reaching the summit of many of the world’s tallest mountains. She was the first American woman to climb three peaks above 8,000 meters, including Mount Everest in 1996. That climb will forever live in infamy […]

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“Guardianships” Can Be Tragic If Established “After The Fact”

One of the most gut wrenching parts of being an estate planning attorney is when someone doesn’t have a plan in place for “guardianship” of their children. It is the one area that is heartbreaking when I see it happen. When it isn’t dealt with before the fact, the “after the fact” situation can be […]

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How does “effective” Estate Planning really work?

There seems to be a lot of confusion about not just how Estate Planning works but why it works so well…when created the right way. Let me try to clear up some of the confusion for you with a live story about a couple that might have some similar issues to your own situation. It […]

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It’s “WHY” and “HOW”…Not the “WHO” and “WHAT” that Matters

Someone asked me the other day when I was giving a speech to tell them exactly what “Estate Planning” really means. Seems like an easy answer for me, but not so much for everyone else. So I turned the question back on the audience and asked them what Estate Planning meant to them. Surprisingly, or […]

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Top 10 Icebreakers offer guide for blogging

Being an attorney from my perspective goes way beyond the law and documents…it’s connecting with you and everyone else I get the pleasure to meet. For many attorneys, this is kind of a pain and a “necessary evil” as I talk with others around the country. To me, it is the BEST PART of what […]

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