While all trusts share some similarities, there are many different types of trusts that you can use as part of your estate plan. For that reason, it is helpful to know what some of your alternatives are if you are considering getting a trust.
Many wealthy people create private foundations as a way to continue using their wealth to support causes they believe in after they pass away. It is an extremely important part of many estate plans. However, for private foundations to work after the founder passes away, it is important to plan properly.
While many people prefer to keep their financial affairs private, there are others who have no problem letting the entire world know about them. One young man in Philadelphia learned the hard way that it is not a good idea to let the world know about your inheritance on social media.
Anytime someone loses a spouse, it is important that the surviving spouse’s estate plan be revisited. As it turns out, widows often need something different than widowers.
A well-planned estate is a wonderful legacy you can leave your heirs — instead of untangling a messy estate, they can follow concrete steps, allowing them to take care of business while mourning their loved one. You should consult with and hire a qualified estate attorney to help you through the process, estate settlement requires a lot of work from the executor, so be prepared! read more
It’s something parents shudder to think about: a will. That’s probably why more than half of Americans with children do not have a legal will. Parents love their children, and the concept of dying and not being there for their children is simply not an option they consider. Establishing a will is a vital part of protecting your financial legacy and there is no benefit in delaying it. read more
If you’re 62 or older, you may be able to convert the equity in your home into cash with a reverse mortgage. This loan lets you borrow against the equity in your home to get a fixed monthly payment or line of credit. Repayment is deferred until you move out, sell the home, become delinquent on property taxes and/or insurance, the home falls into disrepair, or you pass away. read more
This article gives the example of a businessman who had named his son as the nominee in all his investments. Since the son was managing all the father’s investments, it was convenient. But since the businessman passed away without making a will, now his daughter is finding it difficult to prove that she, too, has a right over her father’s investments. In fact, in the case of the father’s equity investments, the daughter may not get anything. The daughter has to get a judge involved, which is cumbersome and can get sticky. read more
Doctors are normally viewed as trustworthy. We trust them with our lives. A lawsuit in New York suggests that it might not be wise to trust those same doctors with our estate plans. read more
An awkward part of estate planning is telling your kids how much — or how little — they’ll get. Here’s how a financial planner can help. For clients, one of the most stressful aspects of estate planning — already an emotionally difficult process — is the prospect of telling heirs what they plan to do with their assets. Because conversations about legacy plans can be terribly difficult, clients may avoid them at all costs — and the costs can indeed be substantial. read more
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