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]
Category: Guardianship/Incompetency
Steve Teaches CE Class – “Financial, Insurance & Accounting Opportunities in Estate Planning”
Steve will teach a Continuing Education Class – “Financial, Insurance & Accounting Opportunities in Estate Planning” on Wednesday, November 6,2013 at 8am at The Biltmore Building to Financial & Insurance Professionals & Accountants. The class will focus on opportunities to create business through Estate Planning for these Professional Advisors. The Class is approved for one... [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]
Kidnapper Leaves Victim Family as Sole Beneficiary
Kidnapper James DiMaggio left the grandmother of the kidnapped teenager as his sole beneficiary on his life insurance. This was another strange twist in the murders and kidnapping DiMaggio committed on his best friend’s family. Regardless of your Will or Trust, who you name as the beneficiary on your Life Insurance, IRA or Company Retirement... [Read More]
North Carolina Repeals The State’s Estate Tax
The North Carolina Legislature repealed the State’s Estate Tax in July 2013 making the repeal retroactive to deaths on January 1, 2013 or later. The North Carolina State Tax was tied to the Federal Estate Tax. In other words if you did not hit or trigger the Federal Estate Tax you did not trigger any... [Read More]