SPRING CLEANING FOR YOUR LEGAL AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

Spring has officially sprung and that means it’s spring cleaning time. Shake out the rugs, clean out the cupboards, and get your legal and financial affairs in order. For plenty of folks, it’s easy to know what to do when it comes to home organization, but the idea of legal and financial ordering can be complex and […]

IS YOUR FAMILY “TOO YOUNG” TO NEED AN ESTATE PLAN?

Young families face different estate planning needs and challenges than those who have had a long life behind them. While established families may be concerned about what will happen to their family when they pass on, young, growing families can be more focused on what is happening to their family in the present. And you […]

5 REASONS TO NEVER GIVE AN OUTRIGHT INHERITANCE TO YOUR CHILDREN – & WHAT TO DO INSTEAD!

If you’re like me, you want to leave an inheritance for your children.  It’s likely part of what you are working so hard to do. But, far too often, the way we leave those inheritances actually does more harm than good. Something no parent wants. Giving outright ownership of our assets to the kids could […]

PERMISSION TO LOVE YOUR CHILDREN

This is your letter of permission to go ahead and simply love your children. Put down those expectations that are ingrained in someone else’s idea of what it means to be successful in the world and stare a few moments longer into the precious eyes of the child who stands before you. Instead of asking […]

WHAT IS ESTATE PLANNING ANYWAY?

Believe it or not, you have an estate. In fact, nearly every adult does. Your estate is made up of all that you own— your home, checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, furniture, personal possessions, etc. No matter how big or small – we all have an estate. Estate planning is really just the process of […]

THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR CHOOSING YOUR CHILD’S GUARDIAN

If you have minor children and have not yet selected a guardian, you are not unlike many parents who put off this critically important task while waiting for the perfect solution to present itself.  Or perhaps you and your spouse/partner cannot agree on who would be the ideal guardian for your kids. Here is your […]

WHY ESTATE PLANNING IS FOR LIFE, NOT DEATH

We know that no one likes to think about death. Which is why many people procrastinate when it comes to estate planning.  Because it’s for when you die, right?  Wrong!  When done the right way, creating an estate plan makes your life better. It’s all about intentional living. I have found that talking with clients about estate […]

5 VALUABLE TRAITS CHILDREN LEARN FROM WORKING PARENTS

Those of us who work sometimes feel that we are doing our children a disservice. Sure, we bring home a paycheck that benefits our children, but we may miss their activities and other aspects of their daily lives.  This can be especially true in two-earner families. But in addition to greater financial security, our jobs […]

HOW TO TALK TO A LOVED ONE ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING

Estate planning rarely comes up in the course of regular conversation and if it does, it is usually involves what has happened to a celebrity’s fortune after his or her death.  The distance is safe, so the conversation can take place. But what if you need to discuss estate planning with a loved one – […]