Estate Planning Basics
Learn the essentials around planning and protecting the future for your family and loved ones.
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Estate Planning for High Net Worth Individuals: How Wealthy Families Can Protect and Transfer Their Legacy
For high-net-worth individuals, estate planning requires more than the basics. It’s about protecting family wealth, minimizing risks, and preparing heirs for the future. Discover the key strategies in this comprehensive guide.
· 14 min read
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Are Cash Gifts Taxable?
Giving money to someone you love shouldn't come with a side of tax anxiety. Learn how IRS gift tax rules work, including the annual exclusion, lifetime exemption, and common tax-free gift exceptions.
· 18 min read
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Spouse Beneficiary IRA Rules
If you’ve inherited an IRA from your spouse, you may have more choices than you realize. Learn how spousal rollovers, inherited IRAs, RMDs, and tax rules can shape your next steps.
· 14 min read
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Will vs. Living Trust: Which Is Best for Your Estate Planning?
Wills and trusts can help you shape an estate plan to fit your needs. Knowing the differences between wills vs. living trusts can help you decide whether you need just one or both.
· 9 min read
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What to Do When Someone Dies: Immediate Next Steps
After a loved one dies, it can be understandable to feel lost in grief and not know what to do. These 10 steps can be your guide in the first few days and weeks.
· 9 min read
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What Is a Letter of Testamentary and Why Do You Need One?
In order to fulfill your duties as the executor of an estate, you must first be granted the authority through a letter of testamentary. Read on to learn more.
· 9 min read
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What Happens to Credit Card Debt when You Die?
You've done all the research and made sure your assets will be distributed to your heirs, but what happens to your credit card debt? And what about when you have more debts than assets? Get the skinny on how the courts settle your debt when you die.
· 2 min read
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What Does Per Stirpes Mean in Estate Planning?
Per stirpes is the legal term for how assets are distributed if a beneficiary dies before you. Learn how it impacts your legacy and estate.
· 17 min read
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Trust vs. Will: Key Differences
Trusts and wills are some of the most common estate planning tools, but each comes with its own advantages, disadvantages, and details to consider.
· 10 min read
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Trustee vs. Executor: What’s the Difference
An executor distributes assets under the probate court's supervision, while a trustee may manage an estate for many years and even for life.
· 23 min read