Our Blog
Popular Posts
Joint Ownership Seems So Fair and Easy…
Many families think that joint ownership will make things fairer or even help avoid probate. What they don't know is that it can really cause some problems. It can go a little something like this... Grandad left his property to Dad. Then when Dad passed away he left...
Old Assets Can “Stink” After a While
Years ago, when I was single, I went out of town and a few days later my condo neighbors called 'cause they smelled a terrible stench. Nothing had died, but turns out I had forgotten to take out the trash before I left. (Thanks Mom and Dad, who made arrangements to...
7 Questions to Ask Before the Age of 70
People are living longer than ever these days, and while that is a good thing, it definitely presents challenges. Regardless of you or your loved one’s stage in life, good planning requires that you ask good questions. And asking good questions can sometimes be...
Our Blog
Establishing Financial Success in a Blended Family
Attorney David Edwards recently co-wrote a book with Ron Deal and Greg Pettys. This article is adapted from that book -- The Smart Stepfamily Guide to Financial Planning: Money Management Before and After You Blend a Family. Forming a Togetherness Agreement creates a...
Unhappy With Your Will? 6 Reasons Why That Might Be…
You took that big step. You found an attorney and you finally got a Will. So why don't you feel better? You should be experiencing peace of mind, but instead you're still experiencing that nagging worry at the back of your mind. Unfortunately, this happens to a lot of...
What To Do When a Loved One Dies at Home
Our clients often come to us as a resource for questions not related to estate planning, and we are more than happy to help when they do. "What happens when a loved one dies in my home?" Like we said, sometimes our clients call us with questions that aren't directly...
Estate Planning is Like… Visiting a Doctor
"My toe hurts!" That's what I told the emergency room doctor when I was about 2.5 years old. (I'm the baby in the picture, just a little before this story happened.) My granddad was headed to the grocery store, and I wanted to go with him. I didn't have shoes on, but...
10 Early Warning Signs of Dementia and Legal Tools to Help
Increasing rates of dementia are creating unique challenges when it comes to aging in the United States. Currently, there are 5.7 million people living with Alzheimer's in the U.S. It is expected that 1 in 6 women and 1 in 10 men living past the age of 55 will develop...
Living Longer: It’s a Blessing, If You’re Prepared
Here's some good news: people are living much longer these days! So much so that there's a new field in estate planning. It's called Life Care Planning. This type of planning doesn't focus solely on a "death plan." Instead, it focuses on using strategies to make the...
Should I Buy Long-term Care Insurance?
The outrageous cost of care is one of the biggest risks to those getting older. This question looms large in the mind of many who are of retirement age... How will I (we) pay for care costs? And many clients ask us... Should we buy long-term care insurance? There is a...
4 Safety Categories for Seniors You Should Be Aware Of
Preserving independence and control as one ages is a major goal of many people we talk to on a regular basis. And with seniors who have a strong desire to preserve independence, come families with big concerns about safety. Is it possible for their aging loved one to...
How to Sign Up For Medicare — A Free Workshop
Signing up for Medicare can be fairly straightforward, but for many people it gets complicated. Or seems that way at first. You may only need certain parts of the program, you may want extra coverage, or you may want to forego certain coverage. Though this might seem...
Nest Egg Trusts: A Tool to Protect Your Property and Life Savings
There's a real problem facing Americans over the age of 65 -- the cost of nursing home care. It's expensive and often unavoidable. A lucky few have enough income to cover the $80,000 per year cost. But how does the average person afford it? Unfortunately, many "spend...