13

May

How to Get Organized to Meet with Your Estate Planning Attorney

You have decided to meet with an estate planning attorney to get your affairs in order and protect the people you care about most. Once your appointment is scheduled, the next step is preparation. Taking time to organize your information and think through your goals will help ens...

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13

May

Make Sure That Your Estate Plan Is More Than Kindling

It is a frigid November night. You put on a sweatshirt and sweatpants to warm up—to no avail—and decide to light the season's first fire. You open the woodstove door to find last year’s ashes still inside, the chimney unswept. Not ideal, but manageable. Yo...

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13

May

Create or Protect Your Family Traditions with an Estate Plan

Thanksgiving is built on a shared story and tradition, but every family has a different way of celebrating the country's second-favorite holiday. Unlike Christmas and the gift-giving anxiety that can accompany it, Thanksgiving is more about keeping things simple. Sure, host...

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13

May

Plan Smart, Live More: Test Your Estate Planning IQ!

In 2025, what is the total amount of money and property you can gift during your lifetime and leave at your death to your loved ones (other than to your spouse) without owing federal estate tax? $5 million $15 million $13. 99 million as much as you want The correct answer is ...

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13

May

Your Family Is Not One-Size-Fits-All; Your Estate Plan Shouldn’t Be, Either

What comes to mind when you think of the typical American family? Today's families take many different forms: Some are blended through divorce and remarriage while others are built through long-term partnerships, adoption, or fostering. Families may include same-sex o...

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13

May

Have You or Your Loved Ones Used These Excuses to Avoid Estate Planning?

We all have those nagging to-do items that never seem to make it to the top of our list, even though we know how important they are. Maybe it is scheduling a checkup with the doctor, calling the HVAC company to inspect that noisy furnace, or starting the fitness routine you keep ...

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13

May

Why a Trust for Your Child Should Mature with Your Child

From the moment a child is born, a parent feels an instinctive drive to protect and nurture. We childproof our homes, choose the best schools with care, offer guidance through adolescence, support their career ambitions, and watch with pride as they build lives of their own. That...

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13

May

How to Help Your Loved Ones (and Your Life Savings) Avoid Probate

Today, many people choose a revocable living trust as the foundation of their estate plan, often in place of a will, joint ownership, or beneficiary designations. When set up correctly, a trust can bypass the expensive, public, and often time-consuming court processes of conserva...

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13

May

Estate and Gift Tax Changes Are Here: What They Mean for Your Planning

The world of estate planning is always shifting, but 2025 has brought important clarity. New legislation affecting estate and gift tax exemptions is reshaping planning strategies for wealthy individuals and families. Here's what you need to know—and how to take advant...

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13

May

Estate Planning Tips to Scoop Up for National Ice Cream Month — Do Not Leave Your Loved Ones with a Sticky Mess

There is nothing quite like ice cream on a warm summer day, served just the way you like it. You are outside, maybe on a shaded bench or strolling down the boardwalk, sun on your face with a light breeze cutting the heat. The cone is crisp, the flavor is superb, and the top...

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13

May

Estate Planning Tips to Scoop Up for National Ice Cream Month — Different Flavors of Transferring Your Money and Property Outside of Probate

It is summertime, and the living is easy. Maybe you spent the day out on the boat, at the beach, or at home relaxing in your most comfortable lounge chair. As the sun sets, you have a hankering for a sweet treat and decide to get some ice cream—a no-brainer in July, N...

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13

May

Estate Planning Tips to Scoop Up for National Ice Cream Month — Adding Toppings to Your Estate Plan

As much as Americans love ice cream, our tastes run pretty plain. Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry consistently dominate “Top 5” flavor lists. 1 When we add toppings, we usually reach for the familiar—sauces, nuts, and sprinkles. Some people go for bolder ...

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