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Estate Planning Strategies

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estate planning

How the Stock Market Can Change Your Estate Plan

October 15, 2019

A new tax law isn’t the only reason to revisit your estate plan. The stock market and interest rate changes can alter the effects of many estate plans, often without their creators knowing the consequences. Here’s a guide to how changes in the stock market might affect your estate plan. As you know, the values […]

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7 “Action Steps” Missing from your Estate Planning Checklist and Strategy: Part 2

October 5, 2018

No matter what your net worth is, an estate plan is always worth putting into place. It’s a legally binding document that spells out who gets your assets… It offers ways to limit the tax burden on your estate… And it helps your loved ones from having to deal with too many administrative nightmares after […]

estate planning

The 7 “Action Steps” Missing from Your Estate Planning Checklist and Strategy

September 27, 2018

Most people, especially those with at least modest wealth, have engaged in some Estate Planning. Yet few people have complete plans. More likely than not, your estate plan is going to have gaps. There are plenty of anecdotes to support the statement, but there is also concrete evidence. I regularly see surveys of either estate […]

estate planning

The “Financial Emergency Kit” and Documents Every Estate Planning Strategy Needs (Part 2)

August 10, 2018

In Part 1 of this article I talked about the importance of having a Financial Emergency Kit, along with a few of its essential elements. So this week, let’s continue the discussion and review the other important elements that make up your Financial Emergency Kit, starting with: A letter of instruction, which can be valuable […]

estate planning

The Financial Emergency Kit: How to Build a Complete Estate Planning Strategy and Document File

August 3, 2018

Many people think they have estate plans… but oftentimes it turns out they really don’t. I’m not talking about those who haven’t done any planning and don’t even have a basic will. I’m talking about people who have taken action on their estate plans — and yet have plans that are woefully incomplete. You see, […]

estate planning

Managing the Key Players in Your Estate Planning Strategy (Your Heirs, Beneficiaries, Executors, and Trustees)

June 22, 2018

In last week’s story, we reviewed the major potential “surrogates” in estate plans (the agents, trustees, executors, and others). Today we offer some pointers for reducing problems you may face with surrogate designations. Know all the surrogates you designated Review financial accounts, insurance policies, and estate planning documents to be sure you know who currently […]

Estate Planning Strategies for Changing Interest Rates

March 30, 2018

With interest rates rising (and expected to keep rising), it’s important to understand any effects on your retirement and estate. In our last issue, we reviewed three major estate planning strategies affected by rate changes. Here’s a look at some additional techniques worth checking out… Charitable lead annuity trust (CLAT) The CLAT is sort of the […]

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6 Estate Planning and Trust Strategies Most Affected by Interest Rates Changes

March 23, 2018

It still comes as a surprise to so many retirees… The outcome of key estate planning strategies often hinges on fluctuations in interest rates. So clearly, changes in rates should sway the choice, or timing, of these strategies. Some estate planning strategies generate more benefits when interest rates are low, while others provide more benefits […]

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