I work with parents on this exact question all the time, and especially this time of year, sitting right between Mother's Day and Father's Day, the love you have for your children tends to be at the forefront of your mind. But there's a question I find most parents haven't actually answered yet, even the ones who think they have. When I sit down with parents, I find most have thought about who would take care of their children if something happened to them, maybe during a qui

Tax season just made you look at your financial life honestly. All of it. Tax season forced it. You gathered documents, tracked down account statements, reviewed what you own and what you owe. Right now, in April, you are more financially clear-headed than you will be at almost any other moment this year. And here’s the thing most people don’t do next: they close the folder. They file the return, pay what they owe, and move on without ever asking the one question that matters

Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs often represent the single largest category of wealth for American families. According to recent data, retirement funds in these accounts alone total roughly $21 trillion, and for many households, they compose over 34% of average household assets, even exceeding home equity. Given this scale, understanding how these accounts transfer to beneficiaries after death isn't just important, it's essential to protecting your family's financia

Last week, we covered how it works when you create a trust through your will. This week, I'll show you how a trust created during your lifetime (called a revocable living trust) functions differently, what your family experiences when you've set up a living trust, and how to decide which approach truly fits your situation. As a quick refresher, a “testamentary trust” is created in your will and only comes into existence after your estate goes through probate. As a result, you

You've probably heard that trusts help families avoid probate court and protect assets for the people you love. Maybe you've even talked to a lawyer who mentioned including a trust in your will. It sounds like a good solution, but here's what most people don't realize: a trust created in your will works very differently from a living trust you create today, and the difference will have a major impact on your loved ones when you die. Both options use the word "trust," which ma

When someone calls an estate planning attorney asking for a "quick look" at their documents, the request usually sounds straightforward. Maybe the documents were created using an online service, and they want to “just be sure” the documents are sound. Perhaps there's been a move to a new state and a question about whether the plan still works. Or maybe the documents are a few (or more) years old, and there's uncertainty about whether they're still valid. Most people expect a

If you're planning for your own future or helping aging parents, understanding options for living and long-term care isn't just about finding a nice place to live. It's about navigating a complex web of legal, financial, and personal decisions that will affect quality of life, inheritance, and family dynamics for generations to come. Let's break down what you need to know. The Main Residence Options Most older adults prefer aging in place, or staying in their own home as long

Your mom told you not to worry; she had everything handled. You were her power of attorney, helping her pay bills and manage her accounts. When she passed away, you assumed you'd simply continue handling things the same way you had been. Then you tried to deposit the insurance check. The bank clerk looked at the check, looked at your power of attorney paperwork, and shook her head. "I'm sorry, but we can't accept this. You'll need to go through the probate court first." Sudd

When you begin thinking about estate planning, one of the first questions you might ask is whether you need a will, a trust, or both. You may have heard conflicting information from friends, social media, or TV experts, which can make the decision feel confusing. And while both wills and trusts can play an important role in your estate plan, the real question is not which document you should choose, but how to create a plan that actually works when your loved ones need it to.