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Tuesday, October 27, 2026

For years, the conversation about passing on wealth was shaped by a single, pressing question: Will the exemption sunset? That urgency is behind us. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, permanently set the federal...

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Every business eventually faces the question of what comes next. In my experience, business owners who create a succession strategy early on in their business report having more options and greater freedom down the line. Building...

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

We never know what the future holds. That’s why it’s important to have a financial plan in place that anticipates your future goals and costs. Life insurance benefits can provide: Income replacement for the family Debt protection for...

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Estate Strategies of the Rich and Famous How the Queen of Soul, the Lizard King, and Other Celebrities Determined Their Legacies Famous people are all too human. Tabloid newspapers and celebrity magazines and websites make bank...

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

When you have a major life event such as getting married, having a child, or buying a home, your financial situation and priorities may change. As your life changes, your financial decisions must stay in line with your goals, values,...

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Tuesday, September 22, 2026

You know the old adage, "Nothing in life is certain but death and taxes." Add to that a third certainty: college education costs will continue to outpace inflation. Ouch. There are numerous tax-efficient strategies that could help...

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

For most people, family and finances are two areas of significant importance. In order to safeguard financial assets and ensure loved ones receive what you intend, you absolutely need an estate plan. However, navigating inheritance...

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, making it a good time to review things you may not know about life insurance, such as: Policies differ widely. Term life insurance pays out a death benefit if you die within the specified...

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Dear Barbara, Two areas matter most for families thinking beyond their own children: transfers to grandchildren and life insurance. When wealth passes to a grandchild or a later generation, it can trigger a separate 40 percent tax, on...

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Most people think a will covers everything. It doesn't. A will is one piece of a bigger picture, and getting other estate tools in place can help your family at a time when stress can run high. A new guide from Wealth.com covers how a...

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Business Continuity Plans are complex and encompass many essential components. In addition to understanding the value of your business and the necessity of having a plan for how your business will look after you step down, it's...

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Creating an estate strategy is about preparing for the expected—what will happen when you pass—but it's also about the unexpected. What will happen if you’re in a sudden accident or medical emergency? It's also about more than your...

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

We’ve been talking about smart estate planning and retirement preparation throughout this series of tips to help you avoid making mistakes in your own estate plan. As most of us think about retirement and leaving assets to our heirs,...

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

You wouldn’t use a teaspoon to empty a bucket, and you wouldn’t use your grandfather’s antique watch to time a race. Selecting the right tool to get the job done is critical to success, and it’s no different in estate planning. That’s...

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

If you’re like most people with kids, you probably want to leave your assets to them in your estate plan. But if not done properly, it leads to Estate Planning Mistake #3: Leaving Assets Outright to Minors. Last week we talked about...

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Hopefully after last week's email, you reviewed your estate documents and maybe even found an attorney to help. If so, you may now have a revocable trust, a document that transfers your assets to your heirs. But setting it up isn’t...

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

There are certain relationships in your life that, to be successful, really need to be built on trust. Your physician, for example. Your attorney. And yes, your financial professional, too. As a client, it’s critical that you receive...

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

This July 4th is a milestone year! It’s our nation's 250th birthday. While you're out enjoying a BBQ with friends and family, here’s a fun story to tell everyone about our oldest Founding Father, Ben Franklin. When he died in 1790, he...

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

For years, the conversation about passing on wealth was shaped by a single, pressing question: Will the exemption sunset? That urgency is behind us. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, permanently set the federal...

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Most people want the upper hand in guiding their assets during their lives and after they pass. A trust might be able to help. Start With the Intention A trust is a legal structure that holds your assets and carries your instructions...

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Every business eventually faces the question of what comes next. In my experience, business owners who create a succession strategy early on in their business report having more options and greater freedom down the line. Building...

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

It’s probably not at the top of your to-do list to sit down and review your life insurance policy. But isn’t a short conversation worth knowing that your coverage is performing as expected? This case study shows why a periodic policy...

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

When discussing the complexities of business continuity planning, the buy/sell agreement may be the most critical topic. A buy/sell agreement is designed to help guarantee a reward for you and your family when an owner exits the...

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

While creating an estate plan is a common part of a financial plan, creating a family legacy is equally important when thinking about how you want the wealth you’ve built to be distributed. In addition to including your family in...

Sunday, May 3, 2026

What Is a Dynasty Trust?A dynasty trust is an irrevocable trust designed to benefit multiple generations of beneficiaries, thus protecting transferred assets, creating a legacy for your client and providing for professional management...

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Have you ever considered the enigma of estate planning? It's a crucially vital topic yet often one of the trickiest to discuss. In reality, none of us like to dwell on the thought of our own mortality, right? But the truth is, having a...

Monday, April 20, 2026

For most people, family and finances are two areas of significant importance. In order to safeguard financial assets and ensure loved ones receive what you intend, you absolutely need an estate plan. However, navigating inheritance...

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Did you know… with thoughtful, advanced planning, you can extend your legacy of charitable giving beyond your lifetime, creating lasting benefits for the organizations you care about? And if you have a desire to give back to society...

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

It’s probably not at the top of your to-do list to sit down and review your life insurance policy. But isn’t a short conversation worth knowing that your coverage is performing as expected? This case study shows why a periodic policy...

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

According to the Social Security Administration, a 20-year-old has more than a 25% chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age.1Loss of income for such a duration has the potential to cause significant financial hardship...

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Universal life insurance is permanent life insurance — that is, it remains in force for your whole life. But universal life insurance has an important difference from other types of permanent insurance: it provides a flexible premium....

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Inheriting wealth can be a burden and a blessing. Even if you have an inclination that a family member may remember you in their last will and testament, there are many facets to the process of inheritance that you may not have...

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Extended-care coverage can be complex. Here's a list of questions to ask that may help you better understand the costs and benefits of these policies.What types of facilities are covered? Extended-care policies can cover nursing home...

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

A living trust is a popular consideration in many estate strategy conversations, but its appropriateness will depend upon your individual needs and objectives.What is a Living Trust?A living trust is created while you are alive and...

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

How Often Should You Update Your Estate Strategy?Once an estate strategy is in place, it should only require periodic reviews to check that it still reflects your wishes. However, life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths,...

Monday, February 16, 2026

Parents are often amazed when their children finally become adults. Turning 18 is a celebratory milestone; no doubt the experience will leave you wondering how the years flew by so quickly. And even though your child will always be...

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

As a business owner, you know the importance of planning ahead. But did you know that 60% of older generation business owners plan to transition their business in the next 10 years, and more than half do not have a formal succession...

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Health and life changes can affect our financial health, too. That's why it's important to periodically check and update your account information and other financial documents. This is especially true when it comes to the beneficiaries...

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Not all permanent life insurance policies are created equal – and that’s a good thing. So - it's important to conduct a periodic audit of your life insurance coverage.Whether you’re looking for predictability, flexibility, or...

Monday, January 19, 2026

Estate and wealth‑transfer planning is not a “set it and forget it” exercise—documents, tax rules, investment structures, and family needs all evolve over time. This checklist is designed to help you quickly spot areas where your...

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

As we begin 2026, staying ahead of tax law changes is essential for effective planning. I’m pleased to share our updated 2026 Tax Reference Guide—a quick, comprehensive resource that includes:Current tax brackets and ratesRetirement...

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

As people transition into the later stages of their lives, their thoughts inevitably turn toward the complicated matters to be addressed upon their death. Having an Estate Plan in place can significantly ease the burden of those...

Monday, December 22, 2025

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to put off important conversations with your family, especially when they concern money. However, family meetings are crucial to managing household finances, setting short- and long-term financial...

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

In our experience, clients have a lot of confusion about life and disability insurance. Many think they don’t need it, that it’s too expensive, or they don’t understand how it works so they don’t bother with it. The truth is, if...

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Do you need a life insurance policy in retirement? One school of thought questions this decision. Perhaps your kids have grown, and the need to help protect the household against the loss of an income-earner has passed. If you are...

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Four Steps to Valuing an Estate Determining the value of an estate is a fundamental first step in estate management and a critical requirement for settling a decedent’s estate.1 How to Assess the Value of an Estate Select the date of...

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

May you and yours enjoy a safe, warm, happy, and delicious Thanksgiving Day!

Friday, November 21, 2025

Did you know… with thoughtful, advanced planning, you can extend your legacy of charitable giving beyond your lifetime, creating lasting benefits for the organizations you care about? And if you have a desire to give back to society...