The components of your estate plan will vary depending on your specific needs and the needs of your family. There are many tools available for you to use in your estate plan, from basic wills to various types of trusts. For example, many people find that living trusts...
Estate Planning
What are the advantages and drawbacks of a joint will?
When it comes to planning, people tend to put things off. But many people in California and elsewhere may not realize that even setting up the most basic estate planning documents such as a will can provide the foundation for financial security for their loved ones....
What are the different types of powers of attorney?
Good estate planning can have a lot of moving parts and there are some aspects which will have more use to you than others. Your needs will also change throughout your life, as you age and different events require different approaches to your estate plan. Powers of...
Younger people are showing greater interest in estate planning
For many Californians, estate planning is something they put off. While this is understandable given the subject matter and that it is essentially acknowledging one’s own mortality – something that people are often reluctant to do – it is frequently a mistake. Younger...
How can I avoid outliving my retirement assets?
Life expectancy in the U.S. is on the rise. This raises the troubling question many retirees are facing: what happens if I outlive my assets? The following are some tips on how to avoid this scenario from occurring. The “4%” rule Traditionally it was recommended that...
Why should a younger person consider estate planning?
Although Californians can take legal estate planning steps as soon as they reach adulthood, many young people put off even writing a will. There may be many reason for the delay. Young people are typically in good health, and they may think that an estate plan would...
Here’s what you can do to protect your grandchildren’s’ finances
As we age, we tend to worry about our loved ones’ financial stability when we’re no longer around. This is what drives many people to engage in estate planning. But if you’re worried about your grandchildren’s financial wellbeing, then there may be steps that you can...
What are your goals in the estate planning process?
People in California approach estate planning from many different angles. For some, the most important part is to designate a guardian for minor children. For others, the distribution of their estate is the most crucial part of the process. And for others, minimizing...
The financial and health care aspects of estate planning
The idea of estate planning can be depressing and daunting. It can be depressing because no one wants to think about their death, and it can be daunting because you may not know where to begin. Sometimes it helps to break down a topic like estate planning into two...
How an estate planner differs from a financial planner
Most residents of the Bay Area who are exploring the possibility of creating an estate plan soon run into financial planners who sell themselves as estate planning experts. Many estate planning experts also attempt to convince potential clients that they can be...
