Avoiding Joint Ownership of Assets: Joint Tenancy Is Not The Best Estate Planning Option
Written by: Michele Procino-Wells, Esq.
Joint ownership of assets with a person’s children or other individuals can lead to disastrous results if not used properly. “Joint tenancy” is the legal term for joint ownership and it applies to any asset that is “titled,” including bank and investment accounts, real estate, cars or boats. When a joint tenancy is created, two (or more) individuals own the asset together and, upon the death of one joint owner, the remaining owners take over that person’s interest. Many mistakenly believe that placing a home or account in joint names with their children is a...
Lost and Found: A survivor's guide for reconstructing life after brain injury
** “Lost & Found Author, Barbara Webster, Wants you to Know” Barbara J. Webster, Author – Lost and Found: A survivor’s guide for reconstructing life after brain injury.**
I need a lot more rest than I used to. I’m not being lazy. I get physical fatigue as well as a “brain fatigue”. It is very difficult and tiring for my brain to think, process and organize. Fatigue makes it even harder to think.
My stamina fluctuates, even though I may look good or “all better” on the outside. Cognition is a fragile function for a brain injury survivor. Some days...
Why Women Face More Risk in Retirement
Contributed by Catherine M. Seeber, CFP®, CeFT®, Vice President & Financial Advisor
It’s apparent that Americans, both women and men, have not saved enough money for retirement. Studies have increasingly indicated that many baby boomers have no financial plan in place to protect themselves against outliving their assets and the rising cost of health care should they live longer than expected. So what makes women so much more vulnerable than men?
Longevity. It’s a phenomenon seen in every population: Women live longer than men. In the most recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017 Tables), life...
Pitfalls of Poor Estate Planning: Top 5 Problem Areas to Consider
Written by: Michele Procino-Wells, Esq.
Preparing an estate plan is often a bittersweet experience. On the one hand, you may feel gratified about the notion of leaving behind financial stability and security for your loved ones to rely upon. On the other, you may feel uncomfortable facing your own mortality and would rather quickly circumvent the estate planning process.
Both feelings are common emotional components of any estate planning process. However, what you should try and avoid at all costs – and trust us, it can cost you – is rushing through the process to the detriment of your family’s...
Paying for Long-Term Care: The Importance of Planning Early
Written by: Michele Procino-Wells, Esq.
We plan to go on vacation. We plan to have dinner with friends. But when it comes to planning for our care as we advance in age, many of us prefer not to think about it, believing it will somehow all work out. Consider the two scenarios below that contrast the different outcomes of planning early and choosing the “wait and see” approach for long term care.
The Facts Hank is 72 and Ellen is 69. They have been retired for several years. Recently, their oldest child asked them whether they had made any plans...