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3 Estate Planning Questions to Start the New Year off Right
Fresh starts can be really nice sometimes. "Out with the old, in with the new" can be energizing. Let's start the new year by asking a few estate planning questions. Many people procrastinate when it comes to their estate plan, thinking, "Oh, I'll never really need...
10 Ingredients for Successful Family Holidays
Where did 2021 go? This year has flown by, and I sense we are in a rebuilding process from the heartache of 2020. I say that because life still doesn't feel normal to me. If your family dynamic is anything like mine, I know we still have some work to do. And...
5 Things to Think About Before Naming Co-executors
We often get the question, "Should we name more than one child as a co-executor?" In the end, it's a personal choice as to whether you do or not, but here are some things to think about. 1. Who will really do the work? Often if there are co-executors, we all know that...
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The Value of Family Traditions
Ah, the holidays... a time when Michelle and I enjoy spending extra time with family. Family history and traditions mean a lot to us. Part of that family history involves names. Here are some interesting name connections in our family: 1. Otis - Bailey and Cole are...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...