If you’re a senior in Petaluma thinking about adopting a pet, you may feel torn. On one hand, the companionship of a dog or cat can brighten your days, ease loneliness, and give you a sense of purpose. On the other hand, you may worry about what happens if your pet outlives you. This leads […]
Estate Planning
Tax Planning for 2025 and Beyond
Planning is important for your income taxation during life as well as for any estate taxes at death. With year-end approaching, it is an ideal time to begin planning for the year ahead. As Benjamin Franklin said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
The Seedier Side of the Holidays
Scammers will use any leverage possible to separate you from your money. This includes preying upon a grandparent’s love and concern for their grandchildren. The so-called grandparent scams are among the most popular scams targeting the elderly and rely upon details gleaned from social media sites to make the call seem realistic. It’s important to recognize the signs of potential scams and understand how to guard against them.
Don’t Be a Turkey or a Ham- Take Advantage of Your Annual per Donee Exclusion Amount
The holidays are a great time to review the past year and make plans for the upcoming one. Part of those plans should be reviewing your Estate Plan and considering what, if any, steps you should take to help you achieve your goals. One of the easiest, but most overlooked, ways to do some quick planning is to take advantage of the annual per donee exclusion amount which can have a tremendous impact on reducing the estate without use of the applicable exclusion amount.
Don’t Stop Till You Fund Enough: Michael Jackson’s Empty Trust
After Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, his roughly $500 million estate became the subject of years of legal wrangling. While Jackson had created a revocable living trust, designed to convert after his death to benefit his children (at ages 21, 35, and 40) and his mother, he failed to transfer most of his assets […]
What Football and Estate Planning Have in Common
I, like many Americans, love football. As I settled in to watch my team’s game this week, I wondered if I could turn it into a blog. As I watched, I realized, in fact, football and Estate Planning share many commonalities.
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