Reasons Reviewing Your Will Ensures That Your Estate Plan Reflects Your Current Wishes
Reviewing your will is something that many people know they should do but often put off. However, various life circumstances and legal changes can significantly impact your estate planning needs. Ensuring that your estate plan, including your will and other estate planning documents, reflects your current situation is essential for peace of mind and securing your beneficiaries’ future. Why Is it Crucial to Review Your Will Regularly? Your will is not a static legal document. As your life changes, so also might your wishes regarding how your assets are distributed after your death. It’s common for relationships, financial circumstances and…
Social Security Scammers Embracing Artificial Intelligence
AI-driven fraud is on the rise, and that includes Social Security scams. Thieves are using artificial intelligence to get personal information that can be used to access benefits.
Special Needs Planning
Estate planning should always be customized to each individual creating a plan. This is particularly important when planning for beneficiaries with disabilities.
Social Security Cost of Living (COLA) Modest Increase in 2024
Social Security COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), a measure of price changes for a selection of goods and services, including food, energy, and medical care, that is reported monthly by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Can Unequal Inheritances Be Fair?
The important thing to acknowledge is that the emotions behind the reasons are not trivial, but are important and should not be dismissed or minimized.
Supplemental Needs Trust Preserves Essential Government Benefits
For disabled persons receiving financially based government benefits, supplemental needs trusts (‘SNTs’) can safeguard benefits and serve as an effective estate planning tool.
Planning for the Future for Non-Traditional Families
Some people are concerned that the new conservative 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court will roll back protections for non-traditional families. Regardless of the decisions at the Supreme Court, or the impact on the state family courts, there are many ways that non-traditional families can maintain control.
Don’t Fall for These Medicaid and Estate Myths
Since estate issues, one way or another, affect everyone over time (since death does) and since Medicaid planning has for many years been a topic of popular conversation—and popular misconceptions in the U.S., it is not unusual that both subjects have generated misunderstandings and, in some cases, folklore that has persisted.
Use Estate Planning to Prepare for Cognitive Decline
Data from sources like the U.S. Census Bureau shows in no uncertain terms that the U.S. population has grown older over the prior two decades.
Why are Contingent Beneficiaries Important?
When planning your estate rarely will you experience difficulty naming your initial beneficiary or beneficiaries for your will, IRA’s or life insurance.
