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10 Things To Think About With Burial Instructions
In many cases, burial instructions or funeral wishes are prepared as a way to reduce stress in a family. However, Edwards Group has been involved in situations with families who were in court or threatening to sue over burial wishes. Of course, these are extreme and...
Life Estate Deeds May Not Be Your Best Option
So, what are life estates or life estate deeds? Sometimes, instead of using a trust, people will use a life estate deed to try and protect a house or farmland. This means they deed the land to their kids but reserve the right to still use the house or the farm as long...
3 Proven Essentials That Will Make Your Plan Successful
Every estate plan has three elements that determine whether it succeeds or fails. The ultimate measure of a plan's success is, "Does it do what I want it to do in my absence?" With the following three components in place, your plan is much more likely to succeed. 1....
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Halloween 2014
We ask our clients to share A LOT of personal information with us. It's necessary for us to help them in the most effective way possible. Because of that high level of trust we ask you to place in us, and because my family is so important to me, I love sharing my...
A Bad Heir Day: When Beneficiary Designations Trump Your Will
Download our Beneficiary Designations Form Many people incorrectly assume that all their assets will be distributed through their will. Unfortunately, this is a big misconception. A good example of this is retirement savings, such as an IRA or 401(k). These accounts...
3 Myths About Retirement That’ll Cost You Money
Many people plan for retirement, but there are expensive surprises that can crop up around healthcare and derail your plans. Read on for 3 surprises about retirement that can cost you lots of money. 3 Myths About Retirement That Will Cost You Money 1. You'll retire at...
6 Ways to Save the Family Farm
When you pass away, what will happen to your farmland? Maybe it’s land that has been in your family for generations. For many families, saving the family farm is important. Without a specific estate plan in place, the land is at risk. You may even know families like...
Planning Lessons to be Learned from Mickey Rooney
A week after actor Mickey Rooney passed away, a court has decided where he will be buried. Sadly, and once again, Hollywood provides another teachable moment about the hazards of poor planning. Here are two of the biggest issues the media has covered, and how they...
Summer 2014
Our clients share a lot of personal information about their families with us. And that's part of the reason I like to share my family with you. Families are why we do what we do! This summer we spent a week in Branson with my parents and brother's family. (The kids...
How to Avoid an Estate Battle After You’re Gone
Creating a "special stuff list" will go a long way in keeping the peace once you're gone. Sadly, in my line of work, I see families fighting much more often than I would like. And while the media might lead you to believe it's all about the money, oftentimes the...
Save Your Family Extra Anguish After You Die: Prepare a Will
Tarina, our Client Relationships Coordinator, hears it all the time, “I wish I hadn’t put off planning for so long. I just feel so much better now that we have a plan in place.” Do you want to make things easier on your family? Or more difficult? Good planning will...
An Exclusive Look at Dave’s Office
[Update: Dave's office has changed as the firm has grown, but it still says a lot about what he values and the foundation he's built the firm on.] Most clients never see what you're getting to see here - me in my office! That may seem strange, but clients don't get to...
The Funny Birthday Hat: 5 Reasons Why Family Traditions Are Important
If you are friends with me on Facebook, you've probably seen the birthday hat. I wore it for my birthday a couple weeks ago. It's really tall and colorful -- kind of like something The Cat in the Hat would wear, only this hat has Mickey Mouse on it. Like many...