Estate Planning Blog

The majority of Americans do not have a will, and the number of US households with a will has been in steady decline. At the outset, it is important to dispel a recurring myth about estate planning: It is not just for the wealthy—or older adults, married couples, or any other single category of individual. Estate planning is beneficial for everyone. But this is just one of the many … [Read more...] about Debunking Common Misconceptions About Wills

Advisors should understand why most Americans do not have even the most basic estate plan in place. Advisors should also pay attention to the validity of wills for those people who do have a will or are engaged in the estate planning process. Will contests are surprisingly common, and nontraditional wills such as handwritten and oral wills, as well as do-it-yourself wills prepared without an … [Read more...] about A Financial Advisor’s Guide to Navigating Different Types of Wills

Which Will Would You Choose? If you or your loved ones have not yet created a will, you are not alone. In fact, according to a recent survey, not having created a will puts you among the majority of Americans. Like many Americans, you may wait for a major life event to occur before putting your final wishes into a formal estate plan, but this is not advisable. Estate planning should be done … [Read more...] about Are You Ready to Celebrate National Make-a-Will Month?

Updated: Aug 21, 2024 The statistics are surprising to those who learn that the percentage of business owners who have a realistic notion of what their companies are worth is as small as 5% to 10% or that the number of owners who have undertaken estate or buy-sell planning as they work towards retirement is as small as 10% to15%. At best, 1 of 10 owners know their company’s value and 1 of 7 … [Read more...] about Business Owners and Retirement Planning: A Perfect Storm Emerges in 2024 with New Tax Court Ruling