Somewhere along the way, homeowners came to believe a non sequitur of sorts, that the “American Dream” includes not only buying a house but also passing that same home on to their children. Financial advisers have largely supported this tactic for passing along generational wealth.
It can be fun to daydream what life would be like if you hit the Powerball for $1.7 billion, but for most people, windfalls aren’t quite as exciting.
Estate planning, once limited to human beneficiaries, has now extended to include beloved pets in order to provide for their well-being after the owner’s death.
Those beneficiary forms you filled out years ago can supersede your other estate plans.
As life is unpredictable, it is better to start planning sooner rather than later. In fact, upon attaining the legal age of majority in your state of residence (typically at age 18), you should begin considering some form of an estate plan.
When it comes to pets and estates, there are two main rules to understand.
Cryptocurrency has changed the nature of what can be considered an asset, and that’s affected estate planning, too, the process of allocating your assets to your heirs on your death.
Certificates of deposit (CDs) are treated the same as other forms of property during the inheritance process.
Life is unpredictable. At least some uncertainties and concerns can be addressed with a good estate plan that offers a wide range of benefits intended to protect one’s well-being and family’s wealth.
Wills and trusts are typically changed over time as life circumstances, the state where you reside, or your desired outcomes change.
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