When you die, you leave behind your estate. Your estate consists of your assets — all of your money, real estate, and worldly belongings. Your estate also includes your debts, expenses, and unpaid taxes. After you die, somebody must take… Read More
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Retirement Plan Considerations at Different Stages of Life
Throughout your career, retirement planning will likely be one of the most important components of your overall financial plan. Whether you have just graduated and taken your first job, or are starting a family, enjoying your peak earning years, or… Read More
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Trust Basics
Whether you’re seeking to manage your own assets, control how your assets are distributed after your death, or plan for incapacity, trusts can help you accomplish your estate planning goals. Their power is in their versatility — many types of… Read More
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Selecting an Executor
What is an executor? An executor is a personal representative who acts for you after your death. You nominate or designate an executor in your will to settle your estate. The person chosen will act in your place to make… Read More
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Minimizing Estate Taxes
The act of giving away your property, either during life or at death, will probably be subject to one or more of several types of taxes (collectively referred to here as estate taxes), either on the federal level, state level,… Read More
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Bypassing Probate
You may have heard about the horrors of probate, but in truth, probate has gotten an undeservedly bad reputation, especially in recent years. If you bypass probate, your estate will go to your beneficiaries without any court proceeding, and you… Read More
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Net Unrealized Appreciation: The Untold Story
If you participate in a 401(k), ESOP, or other qualified retirement plan that lets you invest in your employer’s stock, you need to know about net unrealized appreciation — a simple tax deferral opportunity with an unfortunately complicated name. When… Read More
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Is it Time to Review Your IRA Estate Planning Strategies?
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which was passed in December 2019 as part of a larger federal spending package, included a provision that warrants special attention from those who own high-value IRAs. Specifically, the “stretch”… Read More
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Asset Protection in Estate Planning
You’re beginning to accumulate substantial wealth, but you worry about protecting it from future potential creditors. Whether your concern is for your personal assets or your business, various tools exist to keep your property safe from tax collectors, accident victims,… Read More
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Inheritance: Strategies for Successfully Navigating Sudden Wealth
What would you do with an extra $10,000? Maybe you’d pay off some debt, get rid of some college loans, or take a much-needed vacation. What if you suddenly had an extra million or 10 million or more? We are… Read More
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Planning for Succession of a Business
BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLANNING — WHAT IS IT? One of the important decisions a business owner must face is when and how to step out of the business — in other words, business succession planning or exit planning. Do you expect… Read More
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Estate Planning: Trusts
Whether you’re seeking to manage your own assets, control how your assets are distributed after your death, or plan for incapacity, trusts can help you accomplish your estate planning goals. Their power is in their versatility — many types of… Read More
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How to Help Your Aging Parents Prepare for Retirement
Some people stride into their retirement years with the same self-assurance they’ve demonstrated all their lives. They’ve got the retirement thing figured out, and they don’t need help from anyone. But others go into retirement never entirely certain they’re actually… Read More
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Women: Moving Forward Financially After the Loss of a Spouse
The loss of a spouse can be a devastating, life-changing event. Due to longer life expectancies, women are more likely to face this situation. This has hit close to home for BWFA as very recently some long standing clients have… Read More
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Transferring Your Family Business
As a business owner, you’re going to have to decide when will be the right time to step out of the family business and how you’ll do it. There are many estate planning tools you can use to transfer your… Read More