Ensuring that you have the appropriate assets set aside for your retirement is not just about caring for the day-to-day expenses or paying off your mortgage. It is also critical to think carefully about end of life care. It is not always easy to answer the pertinent questions surrounding quality end-of-life care but it is… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Estate Planning
What Lessons Can Be Learned from David Bowie’s Estate?
David Bowie left a major mark on the music industry but he also left behind approximately $100 million to his family members, according to the BBC. While his will outlines that each of his children will receive 25% of the estate, his youngest child is not legally allowed to inherit money yet. Since his daughter,… Read More »
Prince’s Estate Teaches Important Lessons about Planning
There is no doubt that Prince had clear intentions about the rights to his music. According to a 1996 interview in Rolling Stone Prince said, “If you don’t own your masters, your master owns you.” Unfortunately, however, it is coming to light that Prince did not have as much clarity with his own estate planning…. Read More »
Obama’s Budget and Estate Taxes
You have probably read that President Obama submitted his final budget to Congress recently and that it was greeted by Republicans as ‘dead on arrival.’ We don’t want to get into a political discussion here but it should be noted that there are several proposals that have drawn wide bipartisan support and could resurface as… Read More »
Life is Too Short
According to recent data from the Women’s Institute for Secure Data one third of the women who lose a spouse are under the age of 65. And yes, for over 100 years women have enjoyed longer life spans then men. Although, according to a Los Angeles Times story this has not always been the case…. Read More »
We Should all Plan Like David Bowie
David Bowie, the iconic singer who passed away last month is gaining fame in financial circles for the steps he took in estate planning. Now, Bowie lived in England where laws governing inheritance are quite different from the United States, but what the singer did is a good lesson for anyone. Putting it simply, according… Read More »
Updating Your Estate Plan in Light of “The New Paradigm”
A few weeks ago, The National Law Review ran a great explanation of what they call “the new paradigm” in estate planning. For many years, avoiding the federal estate tax — or at least minimizing one’s burden under the estate tax — was paramount among the estate planner’s goals. These days, it’s not so important…. Read More »
Make Estate Planning Your New Year’s Resolution
We’re several weeks into the New Year, and studies show that most people have already abandoned their resolutions (or at least they will soon)! Well, it’s an A for effort, anyway. If you’re among those who’ve already thrown in the proverbial towel — or if you didn’t even get so far as making a resolution… Read More »
How to Choose a Massachusetts Estate Planning Lawyer
Market Watch recently stepped up with great advice for its readers. Their tips are threefold: Create an estate plan. Do it now. Find a great attorney to help you. Those first two come down to your own initiative — all they require is that you pick up a phone. But, to borrow a phrase from… Read More »
The 4 C’s: Why You Need An Estate Plan
NerdWallet recently answered that age-old question — “Do I need a will?” — with a pithy but resounding, “Yes.” Of course, one-word answers haven’t convinced most Americans. Despite experts’ impassioned pleas, some 55% of adults in this country still don’t have so much as a will, let alone a trust or any of the other… Read More »