Bypass trusts are especially useful in estate planning, but there are special challenges when it comes to assets in retirement plans such as IRAs and 401Ks.
Hoosier Estate Planner
Medicaid Gifts and Penalties
Medicaid is a federal/state program helping low-income seniors with limited income and assets afford healthcare and long-term care. Many seniors believe their only option to qualify for the program is to “spend down” their assets. While this is true in some cases,...
Developmental Milestones in Estate Planning
Developmental milestones are behaviors and physical skills seen as children develop These signs of development are followed by parents and by healthcare professionals. In the same way, estate plans need to be updated as we age and our needs and preferences change, and as family changes occur.
Talking to Parents About Estate Planning
For most of us, estate planning is one of the most challenging topics to discuss with our parents. Even broaching the subject can seem daunting. Despite the challenging nature of this subject, it is one of the most important conversations we can have with our parents....
Estate Planning, Too, is Based on Longevity Assumptions
Estate planning, like retirement planning, is based on longevity assumptions. As we age,, our goals and preferences change..
Life Insurance – An Estate Planning Swiss Army Knife
"Using life insurance successfully can be a complicated - and sometimes very complicated—wealth planning exercise," Joseph Darby III and Kimberly Furnald write in Financial Advisor Magazine. The authors aren't referring to the use of insurance as a way to provide a...
Who Wants to Be an IRA Beneficiary?
On both the giving and the receiving end, there are things that are important to consider in naming IRA beneficiaries.
‘Tis the Gifting Season
Gift giving – things you need to know about taxes and how to avoid them.
So What If I Don’t?
Sometimes children don’t understand the consequences of their own actions. When it comes t estate planning, some people might not understand the answer to the question “So what if I don’t do any planning?
Is your business succession plan ready?
Perhaps you “learned the ropes” of your family business alongside your parents or grandparents in your youth. For decades now, you’ve been at the helm, and you’ve been thinking a lot about the future. You’re getting older, and you naturally want to make sure you have...
