Wills vs. Trusts: How to Choose the Right Tool to Protect the People You Love
When you start thinking about estate planning, one of the first questions you might ask is: Do I need a will, a trust, or both? With so much information floating around from friends, social media, or TV experts, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure. The truth is, both wills and trusts can be useful, but the […]
Have Intellectual Property? Incorporate It Into Your Estate Planning
Owning Intellectual Property Isn’t Just for the Famous. You don’t need to be a renowned artist or a popular brand to possess intellectual property. Whether you compose songs, run a business, write narratives, or tinker with inventions in your workshop, you likely have valuable intellectual assets. Yet, due to its intangible nature, intellectual property often […]
Help Your Loved Ones Avoid These New Financial Scams – Part 2
In the first installment of this series, we delved into two prevalent scams aimed at senior citizens this year: the grandparent scam and cryptocurrency theft. In this week’s blog post, I will reveal two additional scams that both you and your parents should be cognizant of, along with advice for maintaining safety. Let’s dive in. […]
How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About Death, Money, and Estate Planning at the Holidays
As the holidays approach, families gather to share food, laughter, and stories. But amid the joy, there is often an unspoken truth: many families avoid the conversations that matter most. What will happen when you are gone? How will your loved ones be cared for? What legacy will you leave behind? This season offers a […]
GOT RETIREMENT SAVINGS? MUST READ …
The SECURE Act 2.0 brought some of the biggest changes to retirement planning in decades. While most people think it only affects their retirement accounts or may not even know about these changes at all, the SECURE Act 2.0 directly impacts how your loved ones will access your retirement accounts after your death and how […]
Accidental Death at 39: Here’s What You Need to Know
Michael Duarte had everything to live for. At 39, the popular food influencer was building his brand, sharing recipes with millions of followers, and raising his 6-year-old daughter Oakley with his wife Jessica. His content brought joy to countless people who watched his sizzling barbecue videos and creative flavor combinations. Then, on November 8, 2025, […]
Why You Don’t Want an Initial Consultation, But a Life & Legacy Planning® Session Instead
A typical initial consultation with an estate planning lawyer may look like this: you meet, you answer questions about your family and assets, and the lawyer tells you what documents you need – typically a will, trust, health care directive, and power of attorney – and what they will cost. This is a recipe for […]
The White Elephant Gift Nobody Wants: Family Conflict
We’ve all been there. The holiday White Elephant gift exchange starts out fun and lighthearted. But then Uncle Jim steals the massage gun he bought in hopes of winning it for himself. The married couples start tag-teaming to keep the best gifts between them. Cousin Sarah gets stuck with the singing fish. Someone’s holding a […]
What to Do When You’re Ready to Create Your Estate Plan but Your Spouse Isn’t
When you’re ready to finally put an estate plan in place, it’s natural to feel excited and relieved. You’re taking a powerful step to protect your family, get organized, and make sure everything is handled the way you want if you become incapacitated and when you die. But what happens when your spouse doesn’t share […]
Estate Planning Awareness Week: The Ultimate Gift of Protection for Your Family
Estate Planning Awareness Week is a national reminder to pause and ask: What would happen to your loved ones if something happened to you? Too often, families are left scrambling in the dark because there was no plan, or the wrong kind of plan in place. Estate planning isn’t just about documents. It’s about ensuring your family […]