Receiving news that you need major surgery is never easy. Preparing for work absences, planning for childcare and household responsibilities, and understanding the procedure itself and your recovery timeline may be among the things you are worried about. If you have only a short time (weeks or days) to react, focusing on...
Category: Wishes
Talking to Aging Parents About Estate Planning in Wisconsin
Beyond the practical purpose of transferring assets and reducing taxes, an estate plan reflects love, responsibility, and values. That emotional heaviness may be part of why many families avoid the subject. Pew Research reports that only about 3 in 10 US adults have created a basic estate plan (a will and a...
Estate Planning Truths: Debunking Common Misconceptions in Madison, WI
Estate planning often feels complex, leading many people to rely on assumptions that can have devastating consequences for their loved ones and their legacy. From who can make decisions for you to whether you need an estate plan, common myths can stand between you and a secure future. Let’s debunk these widespread...
Choosing the Ideal Trust for Your Wishes in Madison, WI
The term estate may bring to mind mansions, vast fortunes, and a level of wealth that many people do not possess. This misconception may lead to the false impression that estate planning is only for the rich and famous, discouraging those with more modest means from seeking professional guidance.
Is It Time for an Annual Planning Retreat?
Do you ever feel like you never have a moment to yourself? Or that even if you manage to carve out some personal time, you are not spending it as effectively as you could be?
Our always-on culture may counterproductively (and counterintuitively) be holding us back from achievement. We...
Estate Planning That Expresses Who You Are: 5 Things to Talk About with Your Family in Madison, WI
You intend to pass along your hard-earned money and property through your estate plan, but what about your wisdom? Ensuring that you successfully pass all of this along may call for a family meeting to discuss your finances, your legacy, and your core principles.
Most families lead busy lives,...
Does Your Revocable Living Trust Reduce Your Federal Estate Tax Bill in Madison, WI?
Many believe that once they set up and fund a revocable living trust, property held in the trust will completely avoid federal estate taxes after they die. In reality, a living trust does not provide any unique estate tax avoidance strategies.
The primary mechanisms for reducing estate taxes—the unlimited...
Incapacity Planning and Pets in Madison, Wisconsin
Few US adults have an estate plan. Even fewer have included a pet in their plan. Perhaps you have an estate plan that addresses who will take your pet when you die. But does it address the possibility of your incapacity and the need for a temporary pet caretaker?
Can Someone Else Pay for My Estate Plan in Madison, WI?
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. Every adult should have an estate plan, yet surprisingly, most Americans do not. The perceived cost of creating one is among the most cited reasons for a lack of estate planning.
The consequences of not having an estate plan can become...
Estate Planning Is a Great Way to Help You Celebrate the Holidays
It Is Time to Make Your Estate Planning List and Check It Twice
“He’s making a list. He’s checking it twice. He’s going to find out who’s naughty and nice . . . .”[1]
The estate planning process can sometimes be similar to Santa’s process. You decide who should...