Will Power
According to a recent report, only 42% of American’s have estate planning documents, such as a will or living trust.1 This may not be entirely surprising. No one wants to be reminded of their own mortality or spend too much time…
Category Estate
Effective estate management enables you to manage your affairs during your lifetime and control the distribution of your wealth after death. An effective estate strategy can spell out your healthcare wishes and ensure that they’re carried out – even if you are unable to communicate. It can designate someone to manage your financial affairs should you be unable to do so.
A Brief History of Estate Taxes
Federal estate taxes have been a source of funding for the federal government almost since the U.S. was founded. In 1797, Congress instituted a system of federal stamps that were required on all wills offered for probate when property (land,…
Trends in Charitable Giving
According to Giving USA 2017, Americans gave an estimated $390.05 billion to charity in 2016. That’s the highest total in more than 60 years since the report was first published.1 Americans give to charity for two main reasons: To support a…
Problems with Probate
Many people have heard they should avoid probate, but few understand what probate is and how the process works. What Is Probate? Probate is the legal process that wraps up a person’s legal and financial affairs after their death. During…
Succeeding at Business Succession
According to a recent study by U.S. Trust, 64% of millionaire business owners over 50 have no formal succession plan.¹ While the number may shock you, it is not surprising that many small business owners are consumed by the myriad…