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How to Get Started Allowing Hunting on Private Property
Hunting has long been a cherished tradition and recreational activity for many individuals. Understanding the requirements and options for hunters is crucial, whether you're experienced or just starting out. In Illinois, prospective hunters need a hunting license,...
How to Plan for Aging: A Local Event in Montgomery County
On Thursday, April 27, 2023, Edwards Group Elder Care Director Melissa Coulter and Elder Care New Client Specialist Audri Richard spoke to a crowd of over 60 people at The Event Center of Montgomery County in Hillsboro, Illinois. The event, titled "Protect Your Life...
Benefits of Edwards Group’s Dynasty Membership
Life comes at you fast and plans need to be kept up to date. Take the guesswork out of planning and preparing for changes in family, financial, legal, or tax laws. With the Edwards Group Dynasty Membership, we take responsibility for your updates. At Edwards...
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Granny Got Robbed: A Series on Elder Fraud
When you see an article in the paper about a senior being taken advantage of, it often involves a power of attorney. A power of attorney is a great legal tool that lets someone else help you pay your bills or manage finances and property. But, watch out! If you name...
Planning with Life Insurance
We often use life insurance as a tool in helping clients. Life insurance is important in many estate-planning situations, such as the following: Young families. Life insurance can help raise the kids and get them through college...
5 Reasons Not to DIY Your Will
I often hear people say, "I don't need an estate plan. I don't have an estate!" But that's not true. Virtually everyone can benefit from having a personalized estate plan, which is, at the very least, a will. Without one, the state of Illinois will decide what happens...
The Truth About Six Common Estate Planning Excuses
It was recently Estate Planning Awareness Week. This concept was developed because estate planning is an often-overlooked element of financial wellness. And it's one that is quite easy to put off thinking about. Here at Edwards Group, it's estate planning awareness...
Do You Have Trust Issues? One Family’s Cautionary Tale of Why You Need More Than a Will
When John Meier* died, he thought he had taken care of everything. He even left a will expressing his wish for his two children to share the lakefront property he had owned for over 50 years. Unfortunately, sometimes, wishes don't come true. The traditional will his...
12 Questions to Ask an Estate Planning Attorney BEFORE Working With Them
I often get asked, "How much does it cost to do an estate plan?" It's difficult to answer that question without understanding more about your family, your situation, and explaining more about our process. If you called a contractor and said, "I want to build a house....
9 Communication Strategies for Dealing With Aging Parents
"Old age ain't no place for sissies." ~Bette Davis I'm sure nearly all of us can conjure up a difficult or frustrating conversation that we've had with aging parents or grandparents. It can be challenging even on a good day, but throw in medical decisions,...
Estate Planning is Like… Backing Into a Parking Place
Do you back into your parking spots or just pull in? How you pull into parking spots may determine what kind of estate planner you are. Read on to find out where you fall. At Ritz's Diner one morning there was a whole row of trucks that were backed into their parking...
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...