What Does an Executor Do?
If you’ve been asked to serve as an executor of an estate, it will be important for you to understand your responsibilities. It is both an honor to be asked to carry out your family member or friend’s final wishes,…
Retirees with More Education Earn More, and Often Work Later
Having a college or advanced degree provides advantages in the workplace and a big boost, when it comes to retirement finances as well. A prosperous retirement doesn’t always follow a prosperous work life, but let’s face it, it doesn’t hurt!…
The Big Social Security Question: When Should You Apply for Benefits?
As much as people want a set formula or equation, there is no one single answer. The key: look at the bigger retirement picture and be fully informed before making a decision. There’s a refreshingly realistic approach in Kiplinger’s recent…
What Happens When There’s No Will?
Your attempts to discuss estate planning with your aging parents failed and now both parents have passed away. There’s a big mess to sort out. What should you do now? The first thing you’ll need to do is launch an…
The Value of an Estate Plan Created by an Estate Planning Attorney
There are certain tasks that require the specialized knowledge of a professional. An experienced elder law or estate planning attorney will protect your family and is well worth the investment. Estate planning and elder law attorneys often receive phone calls…
First Steps After a Loved One Has Died
Unless you have been an executor for a loved one in the past, you are probably not thinking about a “to-do” list of things that must be done shortly after someone dies.This is a useful list, and one you may…
Expensive—and Commonly Made—Estate Planning Mistakes
You’d be surprised at the things that people do wrong with their estate plans. Improperly prepared documents can result in beloved children being left out of estates, tax bills that take a huge bite out of inheritances and fractured families.…
Competence and Mental Capacity Key for Farm Succession and Estate Planning
With the average age of farmers and ranchers across the United States around 60 years old, the ag world is looking carefully at succession and aging issues. It is estimated that as many as 10 million acres of farmland will…
Here’s an Unexpected Way to Improve the Quality of Your Retirement
A new study reveals a surprising approach that is based on serious statistical analysis. This doesn’t seem possible, but the source is impressive, and the concept warrants a closer look. Imagine that you have a choice of how to boost…
Executing a Durable Power of Attorney Requires Witnesses—How Many?
Make sure that your legal documents are executed properly. This is a critical and last step for completing an estate plan. Don’t neglect this last detail. First, let’s define what a durable power of attorney is and what it does.…