Category Archives: Annuities
Your Estate Planning Checklist for 2021
If you reviewed or created your estate plan in 2020, you are ahead of most Americans, but you’re not done yet. If you created a trust, gave gifts of real estate, business interest or other assets, you need to address the loose ends and do the follow up work to ensure that your planning… Read More »
Is It Time for a Pre-‘Check-out’ Checkup?
Federal News Network’s recent article entitled “Divorced, kids grown, moving? Time for a pre-checkout checkup!” says life changes mean changes for your estate plan, like when your children grow up and leave the home. Let’s review some of the key components of a complete estate plan. A basic estate plan includes powers or attorney… Read More »
What Should I Know about Immediate Variable Annuities?
FedWeek’s recent article entitled “Buying an Annuity for an Income Stream” explains that these annuities come in two varieties, immediate fixed annuities and immediate variable annuities. With an immediate fixed annuity, you receive the same amount each month, as long as the annuity lasts. However, a fixed payout may not be attractive, because that… Read More »
Can My Heirs Be Handcuffed with an Annuity?
Lifetime income annuities are a type of irrevocable contract with no liquidity, explains, The Street’s recent article entitled, “Handcuffing your beneficiaries with annuities.” Many parents have adult children who are still trying to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Parents don’t want to hand over a large amount of… Read More »
Alternatives for Stretch IRA Strategies
The majority of many people’s wealth is in their IRAs, that is saved from a lifetime of work. Their goal is to leave their IRAs to their children, says a recent article from Think Advisor titled “Three Replacements for Stretch IRAs.” The ability to distribute IRA wealth over years, and even decades, was eliminated… Read More »
Do I Need Long-Term Care and Why?
A recent article by Forbes entitled “Does Medicare Pay For Long-term Care? Don’t Make A Big Mistake!” explains that there are several settings that provide long-term care. These include adult day-care centers, nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and residential care communities. Many people think Medicare pays for long-term care because there are some services… Read More »
SECURE Act Means It’s Time for an Estate Plan Review
The most significant legislation affecting retirement was signed into law on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. After stalling for months, Congress suddenly passed several bills, as attachments to budget appropriations, as reported by Advisor News’ article “SECURE Act, Signed by Trump, A Game-Changer For Retirement Plans.” Here are some of the key points that retirees… Read More »
How to Keep Giving After We Are Gone
Americans are a generous people, giving of our time and resources, through donations and volunteering. However, according to the article “Charitable conundrum: Why do we give up on giving at death?” from the Austin Business Journal, less than one out of nine individuals include a charitable donation as part of their estate plan. Why… Read More »
The Decedent’s Debts: Who’s on First?
Estate planning attorneys are used to family members who, for some reason, determine that credit card bills need to be paid off first, when a loved one dies. It’s not the first thing to pay, advises The Mercury its article “There is a priority of debts when you die.” In fact, credit card debt… Read More »
What Do I Do First After the Death of My Spouse?
There is no doubt that the stress can be all-consuming, when a spouse passes away. It’s not a good time to make financial decisions. You should also avoid making any major changes for at least a year, if you’re able. Allow your emotions to settle, prior to doing anything that could drastically impact your… Read More »