A scavenger hunt is a fun game for children to play, searching for a list of various items, like toys or treats. As an adult, it is less enjoyable to participate in a scavenger hunt, especially when you are searching for asset information. As hard as we may try to keep our lives organized, it can be a challenge to keep all our belongings in one place. With the help of an estate planning professional, you can help your loved...
Read PostWithout proper funding, your estate plan won’t work. Why is that? Funding is retitling your assets or updating your named beneficiaries to achieve your intended result. If you have a living trust, that could mean you and your loved ones experience less burdens, your assets are distributed according to your wishes, and your estate avoids the probate process. Changing the title on assets such as bank or investment accounts to your trust as the owner, can make it easier during...
Read PostHappy World Health Day, a day where we celebrate the founding of the World Health Organization and raise global health awareness. Our firm recognizes the importance of creating an estate plan that includes documents regarding client healthcare powers and the decisions they would make in the event of a medical emergency. Having up-to-date versions of these documents could be crucial to getting the care you want. So, what are these documents? A Healthcare Power of Attorney names the people (your “agents”) you...
Read PostThe meaning of National I’m in Control Day is all about taking command of your own life. To put yourself back in the driver’s seat, no matter how big or small the project. An easy way to begin is by making a list of all the things you want to take control of or accomplish. You can include things as simple as cleaning out a closet in your home, or as big as planning for your future. One of the bigger...
Read PostEstate planning generally involves documents such as a trust, a will, and powers of attorney; these legal documents explain who is trusted to step into different roles, as well as set out who gets what, when the time comes. To some, these documents can come off as a bit impersonal or be difficult to read with all the legal jargon, even though our office tries to make them understandable. But, as the creator of the trust, you can include Purposeful...
Read PostIt’s Valentine's Day! Valentine’s is one of those special days of the year where we go out of our way to show our loved ones how much we truly care for them. We share our appreciation with family, friends, significant others, and anyone else in our life we admire. It can be expressed through flowers, a box of chocolates, a handwritten card, or even something as simple as a hug. We all enjoy sending and receiving those little tokens of...
Read PostWhen a child decides to play with their Legos, they start in pieces scattered across the floor without care. It’s a big pile of possibilities. Over time, those individual pieces are placed together in an order that fits the child’s imagination. They can pick a variety of colors, choose how many pieces to use, or even add and change pieces later if they want. This may end up with the child building a castle, a spaceship, or whatever they dream...
Read PostWhile the last year of our lives has been an eventful ride, the new year brings new possibilities. A great way to start the year off on a positive note is with New Year’s Resolutions. We think of our goals for the year, what improvements we want to see in ourselves, and how we can be better than ourselves in the years past. Resolutions can vary from eating healthier to traveling the world, but only about 8% of people keep...
Read PostAs Estate Planning Awareness Week comes to a close, we would like to show how proactively working with estate planning professionals can be beneficial to the elderly community. A common response from clients is that they want to be in control, and as you age various factors can threaten that ability. However, our planning focuses on this issue and our process can help you remain in control as you transition throughout the various stages of your life. For those of you who are...
Read PostAs you prepare for retirement, or if you are already retired, working with estate planning professionals can be incredibly beneficial and can help you avoid potentially costly mistakes. Professionals can ensure various considerations and protections are in place. Your plan should be personalized to you for it work the most efficiently. This can include having a revocable trust with a tailored definition and determination of disability to you to keep you in control. It can also include ensuring your beneficiaries inherit...
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