Congress passed The Able Act. It was to be a much ballyhooed law that would allow a special needs or challenged individual to own assets in their own name and still become eligible for Medicaid Assistance for special care living and related expenses. Unfortunately the law did not turn out as anticipated. What the law... [Read More]
Category: Wills
President Wants to Raise Taxes
President Obama is seeking to raise Capital Gains Taxes again. Capital Gains Taxes were raised during his first term in office. The President says that the Capital Gains Tax only affects the “wealthy”. Capital Gains Taxes affects anyone who might ever own their own home, whether it is a house, condominium, or land. Further, it... [Read More]
Accountants figuring out Obamacare
Accountants tell me they are still scratching their heads and still trying to figure out the taxes that are inside the Obamacare legislation. The reason the Obamacare law was upheld by the US Supreme Court was that it was as Chef Justice Roberts said, a “Tax Bill”. Congress has the authority to raise taxes. Unfortunately... [Read More]
Stuart Scott Passes On
Stuart Scott the iconic, high energy, full of life sportscaster on ESPN passed away on Sunday morning. He was 49 years old. Stuart Scott was famous for his sayings of “Boo-yah!” and, “As cool as the other side of the pillow”, and so many more. He was as full of life as anyone you could... [Read More]
New Year’s Resolution
We often make New Year’s resolutions and promise ourselves, and possibly others, that in the new year we will lose weight, improve our health, learn a new skill, clean the garage, fix up our home, get a new automobile or become fluent in a new language. What these resolutions are about is trying to improve our... [Read More]
The Human Touch
A few years ago I was visiting a friend in a major city and attended a large formal church. As I followed my friends down the aisle there was an elderly gentleman sitting alone looking forlornly at the floor on the end of the pew. I put my hand on his shoulder, smiled and asked... [Read More]
Traveling for the Holidays? Does your Estate Plan work across State lines?
Christmas time is the second most traveled holiday in the United States after Thanksgiving. People are traveling to be near loved ones, friends, family or as a time away for vacation from work or school. Your Estate Plan may only be valid in your own State and not be valid when you are crossing into... [Read More]
Year End Clean Ups
As we head to the calendar year end, focus on the financial actions that need to be taken. Do you need to take action for Income Tax purposes? For Medical Insurance purposes? Do you need to get your Estate Plan updated before you get on the road, that airplane, or that ship? At the Law... [Read More]
Estate Planning Teamwork Vital
Results of studies on successful businesses and organizations find that “Teamwork” is the most important factor in determining the success of the business. That is closely followed by “getting people to want to work on a Team with you.” These are the most important traits that businesses look for in their new hires. Teamwork is... [Read More]
Thankful
I read that “Thankfulness is the antidote to worry.” If we “count our blessings”, start off the day listing 5 things we are thankful for, each morning we begin to live in gratitude. “Gratitude” cannot exist at the same time as “Anger”, “Resentment” or “Fear”. You really cannot feel both at the same time. So if... [Read More]