Maybe the phrase “the gift that keeps on giving” seems trite, but for some — in the right circumstances — it can fit charitable gift annuities. Whether a charitable gift annuity can also qualify for that other overused and abused phrase, “a win-win situation,” depends on the precise facts and circumstances. What is a Charitable […]
Your father is terribly disorganized. In fact, he is a messy slob whose idea of filing means stacks of papers in drawers, shoe boxes and closets. He always has been, but his slip-shod habits have only gotten worse with age. This worries you — and it should — because as his potential heir, you eventually […]
Did you know that you and everyone else in your state already have an estate plan? Yes you do, and it is absolutely free, at least at the outset. It’s a “default plan” and each state has one for its residents. Of course, every state’s “default plan” is somewhat different and, unfortunately, while these default […]
Awkward and difficult as it may seem, every family needs to have a serious discussion about the unthinkables, and those are the financial, legal and medical decisions that need to be made when something happens to one or both parents. A Fictional Example Here’s one example of why that conversation is so important and it […]
Is there an ideal time to have this discussion that families instinctively want to avoid? (Read our companion article, Why You Need to Discuss the Unthinkable ) After all, who wants to plan ahead for a parent’s death? Certainly neither parents nor children. Proper Timing But there is a best time to tackle this difficult […]