Happy New Year! As we welcome 2020, I find that as an estate planning attorney, my calendar quickly fills up with consultations for potential new clients eager to “get organized” and/or to “get their affairs in order.” Individuals & families seem eager to get a positive start in the New Year and seek expert advice…
Continue reading…Category: Trust Administration
Why I’m Convinced that Estate Planning is a Women’s Issue
Estate planning is important for both sexes, but the pitfalls of failing to plan simply affect women, particularly mothers, much more than men– both in terms of raw numbers (we live longer) and the all-too-common female burden of carrying the entire family’s mental workload. As a group, the facts are: women live longer than men, earn less than…
Continue reading…6 Reasons Why Hiring an Estate Planning Lawyer Beats Doing-It-Yourself
DIY Will?? In the information age, you can pretty much learn how to do just about any household task- watch a video on YouTube to learn how to build a bookshelf, read one of the thousands of DIY blogs to learn how to install a sprinkler set, or refinish a dresser. With the almost unlimited…
Continue reading…Trust & Estate Planning FAQs with Tiffany Ballenger Floyd
Q: Isn’t Estate Planning Just for Rich People? A: NO!! Many people have preconceived notions about estate planning and believe that it is only necessary for multi-millionaires who wish to leave large trust funds to their children. However, this is far from the truth; an estate plan can be invaluable tools in the many people’s (not…
Continue reading…Worst-Case Scenario.
In March of 2017, a good friend of mine died tragically in a horrific car accident. She left behind her 9-year old twin daughters. The event had a massive effect on my life for several reasons. I have been fortunate enough to only ever have experienced the loss of my Great Grandparents & Grandparents, which…
Continue reading…4 Estate Planning Myths That Refuse To Die
By Ron Carson, Forbes, May 5, 2019 Link to Original Article Estate planning remains one of the most misunderstood areas of planning. Over the years, I’ve met with people who “only needed a financial plan, not an estate plan” or “didn’t need a financial plan, just some help with estate planning.” I’ve also met with…
Continue reading…What is Your Purpose?
Mortality is a bizarre concept to wrap your mind around. When I was 10 years old, my Grandfather suddenly passed away from a heart attack. I was faced with my first encounter with death. It led me to start addressing questions I had about mortality. At one point, I began to cry as the thought…
Continue reading…Wealth. What does it mean to you?
Wealth to me is not about money. I gauge my wealth on the relationships I have, the quality of time I am able to enjoy with my family, the level of joy and happiness I feel when I am able to provide experiences and special moments with my children. Yes, money does afford me the…
Continue reading…Why Your Family’s Money Belongs In Nevada — No Matter Where You Live
April 2, 2019 By Michele Lerner, for Forbes/ Whittier Trust, Brandvoice Link to Original Article Nevada may be known for its casinos and high-stakes poker games, but high-net-worth families will find it no gamble to keep their money there. “Nevada is one of the most trust-friendly states — and a great alternative to placing your money…
Continue reading…Spring Cleaning: Helpful Tools for Organization
Spring is notorious for being the season that is most associated with new beginnings and clean slates. The term “Spring Cleaning” is historically linked to a deep cleaning of one’s home, inside and out, due to the effects of Winter. Read more about the historical significance of spring cleaning here. However, Spring is also a…
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