We've redesigned and relocated our blog! Enjoy the same great content and weekly updates via email. We'll keep our archive right here, but for fresh news, visit us at https://www.moynihanlyons.com/blog/. Continue reading

Given the reality of longer life expectancies, it’s important for retirees to understand that they may be living from their retirement investments for three or more decades. That means that you’ll need to have enough money to cover routine expenses plus health care and most likely, long-term health care services. Make sure your financial planning takes these factors into account. Continue reading

Meeting with an estate planning attorney is a good way to get started and meet your goals. The size of the estate really doesn’t matter. If you have assets, you really do need to have an estate plan, according to the Observer-Reporter in “Set up an estate plan so your... Continue reading

Mom, Dad — Time to turn in the car keys. So, you’re becoming concerned about your parents handling the challenge of driving and handling their finances. It is a tough issue for anyone. However, some suggested steps to take are outlined by Considerable in “Here’s how to know when it’s... Continue reading

It is important to have a plan and important to keep it up to date. If you don’t have an estate plan, your family can face some really difficult times and find themselves in a disagreement that can cause harm, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune in “6 estate-planning mistakes... Continue reading

Prince died three years ago without a will. A $200 million estate could take decades to settle. Multitalented entertainer Prince died three years ago of an opioid overdose and he did not leave behind an estate plan or a will. And, there has been little progress as the court had... Continue reading

Today, May 17, is Endangered Species Day. It is incredible to reflect on the fact that so many species of animals are so close to becoming extinct particularly when the causes involve purely selfish human activities such as poaching, trafficking in animal body parts, the ruination of habitat, and the... Continue reading

The retirement savings for single women can be lower than married, or even widowed, women. That should be taken into consideration, when planning retirement, according to Barron’s in “The Single Woman’s Guide to Retirement Planning.” Continue reading

At what point does asking for loans, become elder financial abuse? It is often a challenge for a child to grow up and become an adult. Perhaps more importantly, for the child to become independent from the parents, according to Newsday in “Good to Know: Are your grown-up children taking... Continue reading

If expenses for the kids have been reduced, you have a chance to make your financial situation stronger. Is your 401(k) going to see you through retirement? Good question but if the answer is no, it is not too late to take a fresh look at your finances and plan... Continue reading

If you live together, there’s a good chance of stronger financial security and support. Deborah Knox, who is 75 years old and has Parkinson’s disease, decided she needed some help in order to remain living in her home. She decided to seek a roommate and successfully avoided assisted living, according... Continue reading

What happens if you suddenly cannot make your own decisions? A health care directive can become very important, if you should find yourself incapacitated. That is why it is part of a comprehensive estate plan, according to the McPherson Sentinel in “Advance health care directives important to all adults.” Documenting... Continue reading

Who will work in the business? Who will control the business? There are many, many more questions. Passing on a family business isn’t as simple as selling your business, because it isn’t just financials and operations that must be considered. It would be very wise to consider the family dynamics... Continue reading

Apparently, in addition to obtaining your Social Security number, scammers often advise you to drain your bank accounts before you account is frozen and use that money to purchase gift cards to hold your funds. Continue reading

Are you prepared to take over your parents’ budget, if the time comes? Your parents are now seniors and after years of taking care of you, they now need your help. Where do you begin? That’s the question asked in the Daily Times’ article “Senior Life: What a nightmare! Untangling... Continue reading

You have heard of various retirement strategies. It might be time to take a closer look. You spend years saving and planning for your retirement, but it can often turn out that you don’t know how big the retirement check will be. It’s time to take a closer look, according... Continue reading

The tax codes change, and the estate plans need a fresh look. The new tax laws have not made estate planning simpler. They have created a situation where it would be wise to take a fresh look at estate, retirement and disability planning, because those plans work together in one... Continue reading

Social Security, private saving and pensions…plus one more leg to stabilize the chair. It may be the time for some to scrap the three-legged retirement tool and go with four legs, in order to be protected from the financial situations that can develop, according to News Max in “New ‘4-Legged... Continue reading

Times can get tough for your family, if you don’t have your documents. If you are a farmer, a business owner or actually just an adult, there are a some crucial documents that you need to protect yourself and your loved ones, according to Ag Week in “Five documents every... Continue reading

Estate planning should not be a one-time occurrence. Here’s a handy tip: Do it. Review it. You’ve gathered all the financial information needed and your taxes are filed. What’s next? Since you have the financials gathered it might be the very best time to create an estate plan or, if... Continue reading

A will is crucial to asset distribution. However, so is a beneficiary designation. A will is a key tool for distributing your assets. However, it doesn’t always have the final word. Why? Because beneficiary designations trump a will, according to Kiplinger in “Beneficiary Designations: 5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid.” The... Continue reading

It is best to keep your POA up to date, so it can be used when it is needed. While California Powers of Attorney do not expire, they can be rejected more frequently due to the passage of time. It is often useful to execute a form power of attorney... Continue reading

Perhaps it is best to celebrate life, rather than the death. I attended one of the most poignant Celebrations of Life six years ago. Our friend, Anna, was only 49 years old. Her cancer had advanced to the point where she knew that she wasn’t going live much longer. On... Continue reading

Only living child receives $50 million estate Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ sister leaves her entire estate to her only living child, in contrast to her sister’s final plans, according to the Daily Mail in “Lee Bouvier Radziwill's Last Will and Testament shows that her lone surviving child, Anna Christina 'Tina' Radziwill,... Continue reading

18 of the states in the U.S. subject residents to estate taxes or inheritance taxes. During your later years in life, you may be concerned with protecting your heirs from the amount of taxes they will have to pay. If that is the case, then you’ll want to explore the... Continue reading