Last week, we explored some factors to think about if you’re considering buying a vacation home. Now, let’s look at determining whether the numbers make sense for this type of lifestyle investment. There is a considerable amount of number crunching that goes...
Some parts of this blog were updated on March 14, 2018 Life is meaningful and complex – and so are the taxes associated with it. If you’re considering what you would like to leave your family or pursuing charitable giving, there are certain tax...
Key Takeaways Focus on 1 or 2 causes where you want to make an impact. Make sure your donation will go to a qualified charitable organization with little spent on overhead. Consider donating up to 30% of your appreciated securites to avoid capital gains...
KEY POINTS Why trusts 25 years ago are not the same as trusts today. Set up trusts for your kids, and specify exactly how they can use the money. Use trusts to protect your kid’s inheritance from creditors and the estate tax in the long run. The idea...
Estate planning isn’t at the top of most party conversation topic lists, but maybe it should be. It is actually a topic that gets easier to think about when you feel free to let discussions spin a little. And a friend who is a financial planner says it’s...
It’s a very common sentiment. You need an estate (as in Downton Abbey) before you need an estate plan. People with a lot of money can achieve nearly unbelievable tax savings with the right kind of plan, but that’s estate TAX planning. Plain old “estate...
What is your definition of wealth? Some might say a wealthy person is someone who does not have to worry about money. She can do as she pleases without ever having to check in with anybody. Others say wealth equals a nice cash hoard and a robust stock...
“Sam, you will regret more of the things you don’t do than the things you do,” said my friend and office mailman, Jack. I could see the sadness in his eyes as he quietly sat still thinking about all the things he should have done. “I...
In early 2006, I started working in an industry that I had never once considered; the funeral industry. For the next six years, I worked alongside my husband, a mortician, helping families prepare for their final goodbyes. During that time, I witnessed...
With the housing market beginning to stabilize in many areas, now is a tantalizing time for many first-time homebuyers to act. That a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage can be had for 4 percent is incredibly good. But there’s a catch. Most lenders are looking for...
