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Recording and Transcribing Family Conversations on Your Smartphone
With all the holiday gatherings coming up, this is the perfect time of year to get around the table and record your family’s stories. Smartphones have made this easier than ever: turn on a voice record app, set it in the middle of the table, and start asking grandma...
How to Protect Your Family’s Inheritance
I often speak to local associations and service groups about estate planning. Oftentimes, the topic is about protecting the money people have worked so hard for. While proper planning can make things easier on your heirs after you're gone, few people consider how...
You Are in Control
Growing old can seem cruel and unkind. When the time comes that your decisions are no longer yours but are given away to your children or someone you may or may not trust, it can feel like you’ve lost control. But you can stay in control if you choose the correct path...
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Name Guardians for Your Kids
Have you taken steps to protect your kids? The Kids Guardianship Kit is your resource to choose and name guardians for your kids if something happens to you. I know, it's hard to picture anyone else raising our kids. And hopefully that will never happen. But if it...
Estate Planning Basics Workshops
Do you know you need a will but don't know where to start? Is the thought of estate planning so overwhelming you give up before you begin? Do you know how old your will is? Are your kids as good with money as you are? Do you keep putting off for someday what you...
Two Types of Asset Organization Mistakes
There are two types of asset organization mistakes that mess up estate plans. What do you own? How long would it take you to make a list of all of your assets, debts, income and the contact information for each of those? Would it take a while? If you passed away...
Asset Protection: The Case of the $54 Million Pair of Pants
"After 2 years in court, I realized we could lose everything we had worked for...I felt heartbroken and overwhelmed." You've heard me talking about asset protection - how you should set up your estate to protect your spouse and children from threats to their...
Families Face Aging Parents – Trends and Struggles
Aging Trends and Obstacles of Legacy and Control There are some things going on in our society now that makes aging, and the way families deal with it, different than it used to be. The issues below are things I see my clients facing as we discuss planning for aging...
You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick when you need your healthcare directives
Peace of Mind: Can you access your important documents 24/7? I am writing this from Nashville, Tennessee, where I am on a family vacation. Every year, we spend a week with my parents, brother, sister in law, and nephew. Being out of town reminded me of an important...
Aging – There’s Only One Alternative
Getting older. We are all faced with it. As my dad has said, if you don't want to grow old, there is only one other option. (You know, die young...) As I work with clients, I am constantly confronted with aging and death. How the circle of life comes around and all of...
Please, not another blog about Michael Jackson!
There are 2 kinds of people in the world. Some can't get enough of the Michael Jackson saga. Others are complaining about how all the real news in the world is being drowned out by old Michael videos and talking heads analyzing his dysfunctional family. If you're in...
Wealth Transfer or Wealth Reception – Part #2 – The College Years
I went to U of I in Champaign-Urbana. Both undergrad and law school. A lot has changed since I left law school in 1995. Many new buildings, and tuition has gone way up. Do you know how much it will cost now for 4 years of undergrad, including tuition, books, room and...
Michael Jackson: King of Pop (and Estate Planning?)
Are you tired yet of hearing about the Michael Jackson saga? One thing for sure, the gossip media should have plenty to talk about for quite a while. It turns out Michael did have a Last Will & Testament after all. (Thanks to those who sent me links to good...