It Is Okay to Ask for Help
There are times, like the holiday season, that we think about and prepare for, for much of the year. However, when they arrive, we may still feel unprepared. The holidays serve as a reminder of how quickly life happens. It can also feel this way when we get the news that family is counting on […]
Estate Planning Is a Great Way to Help You Celebrate the Holidays
It Is Time to Make Your Estate Planning List and Check It Twice “He’s making a list. He’s checking it twice. He’s going to find out who’s naughty and nice…” The estate planning process can sometimes be similar to Santa’s process. You decide who should receive your money and property (the nice people on your list) […]
Why Your LLC or Corporation Needs to Know About the Beneficial Ownership Information Report
**UPDATE Dec 5th, 2024** After posting this original blog regarding the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report filing requirement under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), I learned that a Texas court issued an injunction last Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of the CTA. This injunction temporarily suspends the January 1, 2025, deadline for filing BOI reports. While […]
2024 Election Results: Implications for Estate Planning and Tax Legislation
The results from the 2024 election are in, and although we still have weeks remaining before the 119th Congress takes office and the new president is inaugurated, there is some clarity about an election that has been called the most important in our lifetime and even in US history. Each election brings about the possibility […]
It Is About the OUTCOME…
We Survived Another Year! The Varelas survived another year of family photos! Each year – it is chaos and a lot of work! Orchestrating the outfits and getting everyone there on time and with their hair combed and clothes wrinkle-free! It takes a lot of work, but each year, I am so grateful for the […]
No Matter What Happens Today
Regardless of whether Harris or Trump get elected today… you will continue to work hard for your family and to protect those you love. Yes, there are many key issues for this election. Of course, I encourage you to get out and vote today. But regardless of who wins, remember that your legacy remains in […]
A House Divided ⚾️
We Are a House Divided this World Series! My father is a BIG Yankee fan because while he was a child growing up in Cuba, the Yankees was the only team they could watch in Cuba so it embodied American baseball for him! Because of my dad’s love (obsession really) with the Yankees, I decided to […]
Did You Choose More Than One Successor Trustee?
When selecting a successor trustee for a trust, it is common for the individual who creates the trust (the trustmaker) to choose one person to serve as a successor trustee at a time. Some attorneys routinely recommend that only a single successor trustee be appointed to avoid the potential for conflicts between co-trustees during trust […]
Keeping the Peace After You Are Gone
Planning With an Aim Towards Building Unity A will or trust contest can wreak havoc on families. The conflict can result in possibly irreparable resentment and loss of familial communication. Old rivalries and disputes can resurface during the trying time that occurs after the death of a loved one, especially a parent. But careful estate […]
Lessons in Estate Planning from Rain Man
Rain Man is one of the most iconic American movies of the 1980s. Starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, it won four Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and was the highest-grossing film of 1988. Although secondary to the main plot, several estate planning threads run through Rain Man, including those related to trusts, beneficiaries, and how […]
