People often come to me curious — or confused — about the role trusts play in saving on taxes. Given how frequently this issue comes up, here I’m going to explain the tax implications associated with different types of trusts in order
Read More
This year, Estate Planning Awareness Week runs from October 17th to 23rd, and one of my primary goals is to educate you on the vital importance of not only preparing an estate plan, but also keeping your plan up-to-date. While you almost
Read More
With the cost of a funeral averaging between $7,000 and $12,000 and steadily increasing each year, at the very least your estate plan should include enough money to cover this final expense. And if you are thinking of simply setting aside money
Read More
Actress Anne Heche died this August following a tragic car accident, leaving behind two young sons: Homer Heche Laffoon, age 20, and Atlas Heche Tupper, age 13. Last week, in part one, we covered the way uncertainty around Heche’s estate plan is
Read More
Actress Anne Heche died this August following a tragic car accident in which she plowed her vehicle into a West Los Angeles home, where it burst into flames. After being pulled from the wreckage, the Emmy Award-winning actress was hospitalized in critical
Read More
Following the death of a loved one, close family members are sometimes surprised to learn that they didn’t receive the inheritance they were expecting, and that the deceased instead left most of their estate to an individual they only recently met, who
Read More
August is “National Make-A-Will Month,” and if you’ve already prepared your will, congratulations—too few Americans have taken this key first step in the estate planning process. In fact, only 33% of Americans have created their will, according to Caring.com’s 2022 Wills and Estate
Read More
If you’ve started to save for your child or grandchild’s college education, it’s worth considering whether to use a 529 plan, an education savings account, or an irrevocable trust. Here’s what we think you should consider as you decide: First, consider whether
Read More
You might think only the super wealthy need to worry about asset protection planning, but if you don’t have millions, you may be at even greater risk. For example, if you are a multi-millionaire, a $50,000 judgment against you might not be
Read More
If you dream of one day leaving your company to your family, but you haven’t properly included your business in your estate plan, that dream could become a nightmare for your heirs—and your partners, team members, and clients. Properly planning what would happen
Read More