Do You Still Have U.S. Savings Bonds?
First issued in 1980, and still in use today, are the Series EE bonds, the most common variety of bonds. They were designed for the long game—they pay interest for up to 30 years. With the end of calendar year…
Identity Theft and the Deceased Spouse
There’s so much to do when a loved one passes away, and it’s hard to focus when you are grieving. Still, there are several tasks that need to be taken care of immediately. Some of the things that need to…
How Does an Irrevocable Trust Work?
Irrevocable sounds permanent, and it is—and that’s a good thing, says The Patriot Ledge in a recent article, “Sometimes irrevocable is good.” Here’s an example: if you have a daughter-in-law that you’re not thrilled with, leaving assets outright to your…
The Purple One’s Estate Wants to Trademark a Color. Guess Which One?
This sounds zany, but it might just happen. Purple was Prince’s favorite color, and now the estate wants to own a few shades, similar to one created by Pantone in his memory. Everyone has a favorite color, but not everyone…
Can Charitable Giving Still Be A Part of a Tax Strategy?
What you donate—cash, stocks or other investment assets—and how you make your donations—may have an impact on how much of a tax benefit you receive. The Los Altos Town Crier’s recent article, “End-of-year checklist spotlights tax-smart charitable giving,” provides some…
What You Need to Know About Nursing Homes
A nursing home is defined by Medicare as a special facility or part of a hospital that provides medically necessary professional services from a nurse, physical or occupational therapists, speech pathologists or audiologists. These rules are specific to a skilled…
The Role of Life Insurance In Your Family’s Future
Life insurance is one of those things that you need, the minute you have a spouse or children who count on your income. Life insurance comes in two basic categories: term and permanent, also known as whole or universal insurance.…
Celebrities’ Larger Than Life Estate Snafus
In the article “Yes, even celebrities make estate planning mistakes,” the Reno Gazette Journal takes a close look at four big estate planning mistakes we should all avoid. These are such basic estate planning mistakes that you’d think no one…
How Does Medicare Differ from Medicaid?
Maybe people get confused because the first six letters of both Medicare and Medicaid are identical. But they are very different, as the article “Medicare vs. Medicaid” from U.S. News & World Report explains. Each program concentrates on different populations…
Is Your Retirement Plan Missing a Critical Piece?
How is your retirement planning going? No, we aren’t asking about your retirement accounts, although those are important. This article, “The One Piece Missing From Most Retirement Plans,” from Forbes, notes that while most people obsess about their savings, the…