blog & insights

How to Choose a Trustee

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When you establish a trust, you name someone to be the trustee. A trustee does what you do right now with your financial affairs -collect income, pay bills and taxes, save and invest for the future, buy and sell assets, provide for your loved ones, keep accurate records, and generally keep things organized and in…

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3 Reasons You Want to Avoid Probate

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When you pass away, your family may need to visit a probate court in order to claim their inheritance. This can happen if you own property (like a house, car, bank account, investment account, or other asset) in only your name. Although having a will is a good basic form of planning, a will does…

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Do It Now: Name a Guardian for Your Minor Child(ren)

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We know it’s hard. Thinking about someone else raising your children stops us all in our tracks. It feels crushing and too horrific to consider. But you must. If you don’t, a stranger will determine who raises your children if something happens to you – your child’s guardian could be a relative you despise or…

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Wills, Trusts & Dying Intestate: How They Differ

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Most people understand that having some sort of an estate plan is, as Martha Stewart would say, a “good thing.” However, many of us don’t take the steps to get that estate plan in place because we don’t understand the nuances between wills and trusts –and dying without either. Here’s what will generally happen if…

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Who Should Be Your Successor Trustee?

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If you have a revocable living trust, you probably named yourself as trustee so you can continue to manage your own financial affairs, but eventually someone will need to step in for you when you are no longer able to act due to incapacity or after your death. The Successor Trustee plays an important role…

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