The annual survey put out by Hearts & Wallets identified that in a survey of more than 5,000 adults, individuals who are in their late career or pre-retirement and believe they will be retiring in the next 5 years have issues with retirement planning, investing and estate planning. More than half of these individuals… Read More »
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Tips for Selecting an Executor for Your Estate
Your executor, now called a personal representative in Massachusetts, is the individual responsible for settling any debts that you have, paying any taxes associated with your estate, and carrying out the instructions you lay out in your will. There are three recommended traits that you need to consider when selecting the right personal representative for… Read More »
Top Reasons Why You Need to Consider Hiring an Attorney to Help You Write Your Will
It can be tempting to think that it’s easy enough to download a document from the worldwide web and fill it out with your unique information. This, however, does not guarantee that your will is actually valid and could end up doing more harm than good. For example, if it’s not in line with your… Read More »
Bill’s Blog: Michelle Boiardi, Visiting Angels, Boston Area, “Other Ways to Deal with Dementia”
Michelle, whose career includes more than a decade of working in the “memory units” of assisted living communities, recently joined the Boston area’s Visiting Angels” to advise staff, home health aides, and families on ways to care for people with dementia in their own homes. She brought that experience and significant knowledge to bear… Read More »
When Should a Trust Be Added to an Existing Estate Plan?
When thinking about the importance of various estate planning documents, the one that come to mind most often is the will, but a trust can also be extremely beneficial for your overall estate planning goals. While a will is a basic document that will outline who will receive your property in the event that you… Read More »
Biggest Reasons to Evaluate Your Estate Planning on a Regular Basis
Many people forget the most important and final estate planning step, which is reviewing their materials on an annual, if not other regular basis. There are several primary reasons to do this and all can be accomplished with the help of an experienced estate planning attorney. One of the most important things you can do… Read More »
Is It Time to Talk About Your Will with Your Loved Ones?
Having a conversation with your loved ones about your will may be important for minimizing the chances of an argument down the line. It’s a good idea to pull aside the relevant individuals and have this chat, but you need to approach the subject carefully. When a parent passes away without having this conversation, his… Read More »
Should You Name a Trust as a Beneficiary of Your IRA?
Inherited individual retirement accounts can be some of the most complex assets to deal with when someone is administering your estate. Federal law states that inherited IRAs for non-spouse beneficiaries are not necessarily protected from creditors, meaning that a beneficiary’s creditors could claim they have the rights to access these funds left behind by you,… Read More »
Make Sure You Have the Conversation with Your Spouse as Well as Your Aging Parents About Long Term Care and Estate Planning
Summer might seem like the wrong time to have a serious conversation about money and estate planning issues, but it could also be the most relaxed opportunity you have to discuss this with your parents. Fidelity has just released a study on the topic of finance and family, identifying that the major retirement issues for… Read More »
Are Your Beneficiary Designations All That Important?
Your beneficiary designations on items such as your individual retirement account or your life insurance policy are critically important for the company to determine who should receive your benefits if something happens to you. Even though this is a pertinent detail of your estate planning, many beneficiary designations are often forgotten, mishandled or overlooked. Many… Read More »