Estate Planning

Does your estate plan need a tune-up?

Our experience with clients shows that estate planning is typically the last piece of the financial planning puzzle that people address, if ever. Not having an up-to-date estate plan could put you and your family at high risk. Read »

What's better for your estate – a will or a trust?

You may have heard that a living trust is better for estate planning than a will. Read »

Advance Directives

With the nationwide publicity surrounding the Terri Schiavo case there has been much talk about living wills, do-not-resuscitate orders, powers of attorney, etc. Documents that pertain to end-of-life issues are known collectively as Advance Directives. Typically they address medical, family and financial decisions made on behalf of somebody who is no longer capable of making their own decisions. Read »

Don't throw away that trust!

Now that the exemption from the federal estate tax has hit $2 million, some married clients have questioned whether they still need their trusts. Read »

Annual gifting limit now $12,000

Effective January 1, 2006 you can make annual gifts of up to $12,000 each to as many people as you wish. Read »

Check your beneficiaries

Improperly designating beneficiaries on a retirement account or insurance policy can be costly. Read »

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