blog & insights

5 Reasons to Protect Your Retirement Accounts Now

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During your lifetime, your retirement account has asset protection, but as soon as you pass that account to a loved one, that protection evaporates. This means one lawsuit and POOF! Your life long, hard earned savings could be gone. Fortunately, there is an answer. A special trust called a “Standalone Retirement Trust” (SRT) can protect…

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What To Do When a Disability Throws Your Estate Plan Into Chaos

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As poet Robert Burns mused centuries ago, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Despite thoughtful effort and a concerted strategy, you cannot prepare for every emergency. A car accident, sudden illness, workplace injury or chronic medical condition can force you to re-evaluate the core assumptions you used to plan your future…

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How to Avoid Sending Your Loved Ones (and Assets) through Probate

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Many people today are using a revocable living trust instead of a will or joint ownership as the foundation of their estate plan. When properly prepared, a living trust will avoid the public, costly and time-consuming court processes of conservatorship or guardianship (due to incapacity) or probate (after death). Still, many people make a big…

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5 Tragic Mistakes People Make When Leaving Assets to Their Pets

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A pet trust is an excellent way to make sure your beloved pet will receive proper care after you pass on. The problem, of course, is that you won’t actually be there to see that your wishes are carried out. It’s critical to set up a pet trust correctly to ensure there are no loopholes…

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How a Community Property Trust Could Save You From Heavy Taxation Down the Road

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When it comes to your family’s legacy, every dollar you can save from tax collection counts. One way to keep your assets out of the hands of the IRS is the formation of community property trusts. How does a community property trust (CPT) work? CPTs save you money on taxes by adjusting or “stepping up”…

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