On a hot summer day, few things are more fun than swimming. Hannah Collins went swimming on such a day in the Edisto river near Charleston, South Carolina. She swam often and was nicknamed “river rat” by her father. But, while swimming one summer day, she became infected by an unseen danger, a rare amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, which is known as the “brain-eating amoeba.” Less than two weeks later, even after the best medical care, Hannah died. Here’s a link to more information. Like Hannah, … [Read more...] about You Never Know: Planning for the Unexpected
Estate Planning: It’s Not Just About the Estate Taxes
When we plan our lives and our estates, it’s not all about the estate taxes. Of course, estate taxes should be taken into consideration, but there are many more important factors. That’s why the temporary doubling (until the end of 2025) of the amount which can be passed free of estate tax (to $11.18 million in 2018) does not remove the need for estate planning. Whether the exclusion amount is $5.59 million or $11.18 million is irrelevant to the vast majority of people. Here are some … [Read more...] about Estate Planning: It’s Not Just About the Estate Taxes
Estate Planning is Too Important to Procrastinate
Most of us recognize that estate planning is the loving and responsible thing to do. Yet, only 44% of adult Americans even have so much as a simple Will, according to a Gallup poll. Our world is increasingly complex. It seems our lives are busier than ever. Interestingly, this may not be what leads us to procrastinate. According to Psychology Today, there are three reasons we might procrastinate: Things Get Done. We procrastinate until we are faced with a deadline and the deadline … [Read more...] about Estate Planning is Too Important to Procrastinate
6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 5: Retirement Assets
This is part of a series of 6 blogs on important estate planning considerations. I’ll intersperse these blogs with other timely blogs. The first article in the series showed how an estate plan prepares one for incapacity during life and not just for the distribution of assets at death. The second article in the series focused on how an estate plan should take into consideration the potential for future Long-Term Care (“LTC”) needs. The third article focused on the differing needs of the … [Read more...] about 6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 5: Retirement Assets
6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 4: Beneficiary Designations
This is part of a series of 6 blogs on important estate planning considerations. I’ll intersperse these blogs with other timely blogs. The first article in the series showed how an estate plan prepares one for incapacity during life and not just for the distribution of assets at death. The second article in the series focused on how an estate plan should take into consideration the potential for future Long-Term Care (“LTC”) needs. The third article focused on the differing needs of the … [Read more...] about 6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 4: Beneficiary Designations
6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 3: Your Kids
This is part of a series of 6 blogs on important estate planning considerations. I’ll intersperse these blogs with other timely blogs. The first article in the series showed how an estate plan prepares one for incapacity during life and not just for the distribution of assets at death. The second article in the series focused on how an estate plan should take into consideration the potential for future Long-Term Care (“LTC”) needs. This third article focuses on the differing needs of the … [Read more...] about 6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 3: Your Kids
6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 2: Long-Term Care
This is part of a series of 6 blogs on important estate planning considerations. I’ll intersperse these blogs with other timely blogs. Often, when people think of “estate planning” they think it’s a task only for what happens after death. While an estate plan certainly deals with the distribution of assets at death, it also is about preparing for the complexities of life. The first article in the series showed how an estate plan prepares one for incapacity during life and not just for the … [Read more...] about 6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 2: Long-Term Care
6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 1: Incapacity
This is part of a series of 6 blogs on important estate planning considerations. I’ll intersperse these blogs with other timely blogs. Often, when people think of “estate planning” they think it’s a task only for the old, the rich, or the infirm. But, that simply is not true. Estate planning is something you do when you care, regardless of your age, wealth, or health. One thing to consider in your estate planning is your own possible incapacity. Nobody wants to consider they may become … [Read more...] about 6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 1: Incapacity
Retirement is Complicated
Many factors go into retirement decisions. When should you retire? Where should you retire? Etc. Family and personal factors are perhaps the most important of these considerations. Where do your children, grandchildren, and friends live? Where do you have roots? What location has the weather and scenery you enjoy? How are you feeling? Financial issues are only one factor in choosing a retirement location. Depending upon the person, it may loom large, or it may not be a significant factor at … [Read more...] about Retirement is Complicated
Retirement: It’s not Just About the Money
Many factors go into retirement decisions. Often, people are stressed over whether they’ll have enough money or other resources to retire. That’s certainly one factor in retirement. And, given the savings statistics, this might be a factor contributing to retirement stress. According to a survey done in 2013, the mean amount of retirement savings for a family between 56 and 61 years of age was only $17,000. Here’s a link to an article based on the survey. But, many financial professionals … [Read more...] about Retirement: It’s not Just About the Money
