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With the traditional family on a downward trend, the modern family is raising some new questions for estate planning. The rising numbers of modern and blended families have created some challenges for estate planning, according to Forbes in “How Long Will Stepmom Live? And Other Vexing Estate ...

Giving for the tax break or to better your community? Or Both? Some people donate to charities primarily for the tax breaks, so the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs act may cause them to review their charitable giving, says Barron's Penta in “How to Leave Assets—With an Immediate Tax Write-Off.”

Start planning long before a visit is needed. Careful planning can often help patients with Alzheimer's to be more relaxed and comfortable if the day comes when a trip to the emergency room becomes necessary, according to The Advocate in “Alzheimer's Q&A: What should I know before taking someone...

“Charitable giving comes in many forms. Some people donate annually to their favorite charities, while others may volunteer their time or professional services. One way many people choose to give to charity, is to donate at the time of their death. Including charitable giving into an estate plan...

Social Security options need to be approached carefully. Many people have been known to confuse “Restricted Application” with the “Claim and Suspend” strategy and that can cause some problems, according to Forbes in “Put Thousands In Your Pocket By Taking Advantage Of the Social Security...

If the clients wait until the last minute, panic can set in. A woman and her team focus on the difficulties of the work as well as the emotional challenges faced by Baby Boomers who opt to downsize, according to Columbus CEO's article “Estate Planning and Retirement: How to Downsize Like a D...

Offers to leave your job with compensation are growing at a considerable rate. The offering of early retirement has grown tremendously in the U.S. However, it is important to think the options through carefully, before making your decision, according to Money in “This Is the Only Time You Sh...

How many people over the age of 45 do not have a prepared will? Two out of Five! Many people seem to have a difficulty getting started with an estate plan. However, it really doesn't take much to do the planning necessary to help family members who survive you, according to the Lebanon Democ...

It sounds financial but it isn't. It is all about the person's behavior in the relationship. A fiduciary relationship is a legal relationship that includes responsibilities that can be enforced and it is important to look closely at it, according to the Denton Record-Chronicle...

Government regulations usually have less impact than family relations. There are some big mistakes that farmers can make. It is best to be aware of them and avoid following in the footsteps of others, according to Ag Web in “5 Estate Planning Mistakes You Don't Want To Make.”

The tale might be light-hearted, but it is actually a dire position for the daughter. Proper estate planning by Cinderella's father could have created an entirely different outcome in that very famous fairy tale, according to The National Law Review in “A Cautionary Fairy-Tale–If Only Cinder...

Laws can still prevent someone with your Advance Care Directive from accessing medical records. It seems illogical that the person who is named as your agent under an Advanced Care Directive can't gain access to your health care records. However, that can sometimes be the case, according to th...

Life is full of surprises, so perhaps it is best to be as prepared as possible. Do you know you need a Power of Attorney and an estate plan? Getting organized to create a will is a good place to start, according to the Toronto Sun in the article “Where there's a will, there's a way.”

Signing up for retirement isn't simple, because you have many options. There are many options when it comes to retirement, so it can be helpful to seek professional advice before making decisions that can't easily be reversed, according to the Cleveland Jewish News...

Even if you are self-employed, you can still plan for retirement. People who own and run a business often find themselves without the usual plans available to employees, such as a 401(k). However, that does not mean they do not have options to save for retirement, according to Zing!...

The larger picture needs to be considered rather than the short term. The federal estate planning exemptions have been increased. However, that doesn't mean an estate plan is not needed, because it is still a good tool when it comes to protecting your heirs, according to ThinkAdvisor...

Want to become more in control? Get that estate plan in order. When it comes to investments, the risks involved can make us feel we are not in control. However, if you want to feel more in control, take a good look at your estate plan, according to the Daily Camera...

Retirement accounts usually have the largest impact. However, there are also other income streams. One of the surprises that can catch you unaware is that taxes during the working years are usually much simpler than taxes during retirement, according to The News Tribune in...

Scam artist targets woman who is grieving for her husband. Scammers work on the easiest targets, so senior citizens are often their targets in hopes they will catch them off guard at their weakest moments, according to Newsday...

It isn't difficult to get the process started. Many Americans make New Year's resolutions. However, it turns out that very few keep them. One New Year's resolution that is relatively easy to keep and helps prevent your family from unnecessary stress in the future is getting your estate plan ...

Handling the decedent's final affairs. When a family member passes away, there are some important papers and information that must be gathered. The smart way to address the issue is to gather the papers beforehand and have assistance from an estate planning attorney, according to The Balance...

Assets will have to be divided in addition to dealing with paperwork, courts and tax law changes. Dividing up assets is difficult in a divorce and the new tax law changes that went into effect in January are not going to make it any easier, according to Next Avenue...

Don't wait until you are under pressure to create these safeguards. If you don't have documents that protect you, your family and your assets, you should consider doing yourself a favor and putting them on your list to accomplish in 2019, according to Fox Business...

A “go-bag” can protect your family until you can head home again. As we all know from news events, you never know when an emergency will arise that causes the evacuation of your home. If that should happen, do you have a “go-bag” that will protect your family until life returns to normal?...

What happens to the caregiver when your loved one is gone? Providing care for another adult can be difficult because the caregiver often puts their life on hold.  They may find themselves facing a new challenge later, according to the AARP Bulletin in “What Happens When Caregiving Ends?”