Strange Days

Late last week a TSA Agent was shot and killed at LAX Airport in Los Angeles, California. Last night shots were fired in a very large mall in New Jersey. Both armed men had multiple weapons on them and no real known cause for their actions. Anytime we are in public there is always the... [Read More]

What Is Important in Estate Planning?

When polling my clients on their top priorities in their Estate Plans, they’ve told me they are: (1)  take care of them while they are alive or while they are mentally disabled; (2)  take care of their family or loved ones; and (3)  avoid Probate Court costs and Taxes Your priorities may be similar. You... [Read More]

The Death of Adrian Peterson’s Son Prioritizes Everything

The murder of the 2 year old son of Adrian Peterson puts things in perspective. The trivial things his family members may have worried about before the tragedy dissolve into meaninglessness. What are the most important things in your life? Who are the most important people in your life? What are you doing to take... [Read More]

Technology Without Wisdom is Wasted

Billionaire Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys football team, was ridiculed for using a “flip-phone” on Monday. It obviously has not held him back from being a successful oil businessman or successful owner of possibly the most valuable NFL Team. There is some tendency to think that the most recent technology is more important... [Read More]

One cannot know Joy or Serenity without the Gift of Loss

We seek to avoid all of the pain of life for ourselves and loved ones.  However Pain & Loss are where we really learn.  It is where we gather Wisdom that we can later use to help ourselves and others.  We don’t want to intentionally hurt ourselves or our loved ones unnecessarily because Life will... [Read More]

Gratitude Offsets Anger and Fear

One cannot be in both Gratitude and also in Anger or Fear at the same time.  If we are in gratitude we are in polar opposite of, and unable to be in, Anger or Fear.  Anger locks us down wherein we are unable to move forward. Fear of the future also keeps us from moving... [Read More]

How Am I Doing?

“How Am I Doing?” is a great way to evaluate how you are progressing in different areas of your life. It was a favorite question inviting evaluation from former NYC Mayor Ed Koch. “How am I doing in my Estate Plan?”, is a great way to consider is your Estate Plan up to date with... [Read More]

Yosemite Wildfires: Are We Safe?

Whether the Danger is natural like a Fire, or manmade like a Lawsuit, we want to make sure we, and those we love and what we own, are protected when danger strikes. With the wildfires racing through Yosemite National Park we think about what if those fires were burning up our home?  Or what if... [Read More]

“Git ‘Er Done”

Larry the Cable Guy For many of us, our tendency towards perfectionism precludes us from moving forward. Our strong desire to “get it just right” precludes us from moving forward on what needs to get done. “Paralysis by Analysis” is a good description as it often precludes the perfectionist in us from moving forward on... [Read More]

You have an Affirmative Duty to do Estate Planning

Most states, including North Carolina, have laws in place that establish what your Estate Plan will be. Those Laws may be the opposite of what you actually want. In North Carolina under those laws, in a family with a husband and wife with children, in most scenarios, two thirds (2/3) of the parent’s estate, when... [Read More]