Gifting to Nieces and Nephews – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You (and Them)

Picture this scenario…

You’ve worked hard, saved and managed to accumulate some wealth.

You’re not a robber baron by any means but you’re comfortable. Your siblings haven’t fared as well and you want to make sure that their children have the benefit of a solid higher education. With no children of your own, it seems the right thing to do.

What does this have to do with estate planning?
Nothing. I just like it.
So you set up 529 college education savings plans for your nieces and nephews, make them the beneficiaries, and mention everything in your will.

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Questions to Ask About Nursing Home Care

Last week, I promised to give you some thoughts on nursing home care. And here it is!

Now that we’re living longer than ever, we need to ask some tough questions about how to care for our elders (and ourselves) when the time comes. Making the decision to place a loved one in a nursing home can be one of the most heart-wrenching decisions you’ll ever make.

Mom, long before her last illness.
Can you believe this woman had 10 kids?

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An Eye On The Horizon–Planning for a Golden Future

My mom, shortly before she passed away.
She’s why I want to help people have a good, secure, content old age.
Ain’t she something?
We all know that Americans are living far longer today than we were even a short time ago. But we’re living sicker lives. Currently, elder Americans spend 65 cents of every dollar spent on health care and that amount is expected to take a sharp upward turn in dollars and as a percentage of expenditures in the near future.

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How Do I Name Guardians for My Kids?

Making a decision about who would raise your children if something happened to you can be puzzling and even dramatic—especially for a married couple trying to agree on potential guardians. Rest assured, you know your children better than anyone and you’re uniquely qualified to make the decision in a way no one else is—not even a judge. So before you throw your arms up with an “I have no idea who to pick!” here’s a method to come to a decision that you can live with. REMEMBER: guardian nominations can be changed and should be changed over time as your children grow and their needs change. Don’t be afraid to make a decision and then change it later. That’s the natural progression of childhood in operation.

Does this kid looks like he needs a special kind of guardian? Oh yeah.

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