My daily goal is to be a better father today than I was yesterday. Some days I feel like I achieve it. Most days I don’t. But after opening my homemade Father’s Day cards and gifts this year, I decided to put pen to paper (actually, fingers to keyboard) as I reflected on the many […]
A new study by the Boston College Center on Wealth and Philanthropy found that the greatest wealth transfer in history is currently underway, with more than $59 trillion passing to heirs, charities and Uncle Sam between now and 2061. The majority of this wealth — $36 trillion — is passing directly to heirs and another […]
It sounds crazy, I know. An Estate Planning attorney who actually hates the words “estate planning”? Just hear me out. I hate estate planning because it conjures up the image of a bunch of stuffy, old lawyers sitting around a giant conference table, scheming about who’s going to kick the bucket next and how to […]
One of the most striking aspects of the recent opening of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum is the voice recordings left on the phones of the victims’ families of their last messages to loved ones. We hear so many stories of family members who keep voicemails and answering machine messages for years after […]
Most parents love their children unconditionally and want to do whatever they can to smooth life’s rough patches for them. But that unconditional love doesn’t necessarily mean parents should unconditionally trust their children when it comes to leaving a hefty inheritance. Here are some smart ways parents can pass their love along while still protecting […]
Did you know that the best-selling item at Walmart is bananas? It’s true, and has been for several years. So the next time you need a great price on your favorite yellow fruit, go ahead and make a trip to Walmart. But steer clear of the world’s largest retailer when you need a will or […]
Many people fail to create an estate plan because they don’t truly understand what their family will go through without a plan in place. Creating an estate plan during your lifetime is far less complicated than what your family will deal with after you are gone, if you don’t. 1. Create a Trust. When most […]
The perfect gift for your child or grandchild on the occasion of their birth, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Sweet 16 or Quinceañera cannot be found in any store. Instead, the hopes and wishes you have for your child’s (or grandchild’s) future can best be expressed with a gift of security, resources and a foundation of […]
If you are like most Americans, you will probably be spending at least some of your vacation time this summer with older family members. While there are few perfect times to talk with parents about their estate plan, the relaxed times you spend together on vacation can be one of them. Here are some tips […]
America is a nation of do-it-yourselfers, but building a deck and creating a legally valid estate plan are two entirely different things – and a less-than-perfect deck won’t devastate your family’s financial future or the relationships among the people you care about most. The prevalence of online legal services has led many people to believe […]
