Alfred Nobel's last will and testament, which played a pivotal role in Swedish history by creating the now-illustrious Nobel prizes, has gone on display for the first time in Stockholm. From warmonger to Nobel Peace Prize creator? Hard to believe, but Alfred Nobel amassed a fortune producing dynamite for use... Continue reading

Planning for family members with special needs can be overwhelming, particularly when so many decisions may have lifelong consequences. Beyond figuring out the intricacies of government programs, parents fret over guardianships, how governmental services may erode and what legal documents they need. Children are raised to eventually be able to... Continue reading

Former University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith, who died last month at 83, is treating his former players to dinner. The Hall of Famer left instructions for his estate to send $200 to each of his varsity lettermen so they could have a meal compliments of him. As... Continue reading

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) Chief Executive Tim Cook is joining the roster of the very rich who are giving away their wealth. Yahoo Finance reports about this story in an article titled "Apple's Tim Cook will give away all his money." Cook plans to pay for his nephew's college education and... Continue reading

If figuring out the price of a car is tough, try setting up a trust. Published fee schedules offer some guidance, but since each firm includes different things, it’s like comparing poodles with pigs. The kind of deal you get depends on how much money you have, the complexity of... Continue reading

You probably own some items of real or sentimental value (jewelry, antiques, art, heirlooms, photographs, keepsakes, furniture, clothing, etc.) that you would like a certain child, grandchild, special friend, relative, or charity to have after you die. Or maybe you just want your personal property equally divided among your surviving... Continue reading

Just five days after Breen was shot, attorneys working for Kacie Breen filed a motion in state district court in Covington to appoint an attorney to try to find Wayne Breen’s will. The court appointed Alan Black to search for the will. Five days after that, a different attorney filed... Continue reading

If you are the spouse that handles the finances, take my advice seriously. Don’t frustrate yourself and cause your spouse unneeded stress. Do both of you a favor by finding a professional you trust and instructing them to guide your surviving spouse through the process once you’re gone. Does your... Continue reading

Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez offered a baffling defense of the death tax Wednesday during a hearing examining the sometimes unbearable burden it places on family farms and businesses. People receiving food stamps have to pass drug tests or meet work requirements to receive taxpayer dollars, Sanchez reasoned, so it’s only... Continue reading

Where an estate is large enough to pay estate taxes and may pass to a surviving spouse who is not a U.S. citizen, special consideration must be given to the estate plan to minimize the impact and timing of estate taxes due. Otherwise a large portion of the estate otherwise... Continue reading

The recently deceased continue to exist on paper, and this may be the case for some time. Meanwhile, many bankable facts -- key among them your Social Security number and personally identifiable information -- are just sort of there in the form of "zombie" purchasing power. An identity thief can... Continue reading

Where an estate is large enough to pay estate taxes and may pass to a surviving spouse who is not a U.S. citizen, special consideration must be given to the estate plan to minimize the impact and timing of estate taxes due. Otherwise a large portion of the estate otherwise... Continue reading

Whether you want to provide for your family after your death or you just want to ensure that the process is as easy as possible for your family, estate planning is the easiest way to accomplish your goals. What exactly is estate planning? Are you unsure of where to begin?... Continue reading

The viewers of this high-end PBS costume drama, which takes place about a century ago, could very likely be your clients' demographic. Look at who's a top corporate sponsor: Viking River Cruises, which told The New York Times that “our demographic is affluent Baby Boomers 55+.” It's a big group:... Continue reading