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]
Category: Health Care
My Recent Automobile Collision Reminds Me of the “Fragility of Life”
Last Friday morning while I was heading on my way to a meeting for a Charitable Board a man ran a stop sign and rammed into the right back side of my car. He was accelerating when his car rammed into me. He told me that he never saw me, that he was lost, that... [Read More]
The recent FORBES advises that 30% of the wealthiest people inherited their money. Therefore, their family did good Estate Planning
If good Estate Planning is not done an inheritance is lost to Taxes, Probate Costs, Squander, Lost in Divorce, or Lost in Lawsuits. You may not be FORBES wealthy, but do you want to waste everything you’ve ever earned? If you do not do good Estate Planning to transfer your “Life’s Work™” (everything you’ve earned) to... [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]
Summer Travel and Healthcare Authority
Summer is when many Americans are traveling out-of-state. They are on vacation to new places or to visit with loved ones or family. As we cross state lines one concern is that our Healthcare Power of Attorney a/k/a Healthcare Proxy might not be accepted in another state. For example if you have a Healthcare Power... [Read More]
We Live the Life We Choose
“The only thing that stands between a person and what they want in life is the will to try it and the faith to believe it is possible.” Rich DeVos. “We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only... [Read More]
Steve’s Class Well Received
The reviews on Steve’s North Carolina Department of Insurance, Continuing Education Class on Wednesday morning, May 29th on “The 10 Common Estate Planning Mistakes Single People Make” were all evaluated at the highest level of “Excellent”. Some of the comments were: “Good refresher!” “Received a much better understanding of Trusts and what to plan for.”... [Read More]
Can I Get Access To My Sick Mom’s Medical Information?
Under the Healthcare Privacy Laws, commonly known as HIPPA, medical providers are very limited in what information they may give out regarding a patient. If you do not have a Healthcare Power that includes HIPPA language, or a Healthcare Designation specific as to the HIPPA Laws, you may not get access to information regarding your... [Read More]
What About Mental Disability?
It seems that mental incapacity is on the rise among seniors. The Gerontologist tell us that Alzheimer’s Disease is on the rise. Part of that may be that we are living longer and part of that may be environmental. We should Estate Plan for Mental Disability as we may be unfortunate enough that we get... [Read More]