When people write down their assets in conjunction with their estate planning, they often overlook their digital assets. Digital assets are considered to be any electronic record that you own or control. This can include Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, or other online accounts. It can also include cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, social media pages, online photos, email accounts, credit card rewards,…
Estate planning is not just for seniors. Ideally, as soon as you turn eighteen you should have some version of an estate plan because your parents are no longer automatically able to make decisions or act on your behalf. There are several reasons to create a power of attorney for finances once you turn eighteen. For example, the military helps…
Now that we’ve settled into somewhat of a new normal for the time being, people are thinking about getting things in order. There is still a sense of urgency, but many are taking the time to review their estate plans to make sure everything is in place, or are taking steps to put a new plan in place. In California,…
Are you a health care worker, or do you have a loved one who is? Then this episode is for you. Health care workers are very special, and we all owe them our gratitude for the work they do, but it’s important, especially now, that they do not allow their instinct to help others get in the way of…
Our clients understand the importance of estate planning. In this time of COVID-19, many people are also feeling a sense of urgency. It is important to remember, though, that the plan is only the beginning. A surprising number of our clients discover, after the death of a family member, that an asset that should have been transferred to the trust…
On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed into law the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (the “SECURE Act”), and it became effective on January 1, 2020. The SECURE Act has made several changes to the administration of retirement accounts. One big change is that it increases the required beginning date for required minimum distributions (“RMDs”) from your…
Jean opened the envelope that contained her aunt’s will and began to laugh. “Oh, Aunt Sarah. You and your post-it notes.” She shook her head. Jean pulled out the document. The entire front page was covered in small yellow squares of paper. “Guess she changed her mind, a few times.” Her sister, Joan, frowned. “What a mess. How are we…