by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 13, 2014 | estate plan, Estate Planning
The late comedian George Carlin had a famous routine about “stuff” where he called our homes “just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff!” But to most of us, our stuff is more than just stuff, it has sentimental as...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 13, 2014 | Retirement
Research shows that more than half of us will underestimate how much money we will need to live on in retirement, primarily because most of us also underestimate how long we will live. But with the average life expectancy at an all-time high and rising,...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 12, 2014 | estate plan, Estate Planning
Many people never give a second thought to planning their estates until they have children or reach middle age. However, estate planning is important at any age to ensure that your wishes are followed out should something unexpected occur. Especially in California,...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 5, 2014 | estate plan, Estate Planning, living will, power of attorney
When people think about estate planning, they often equate it with writing a will. Although a will is indeed an integral part of any estate plan, it is by no means the only thing to consider. Other things that you should be sure to discuss with your lawyer when...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | May 29, 2014 | Estate Planning
Increasingly in today’s society, people are choosing to go “paperless” and store their important information online. Although this is good for the environment, it can be a nightmare for the heirs and executors of an estate. To help ensure that your...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Mar 12, 2014 | Uncategorized
While there is no substitute for an up-to-date estate plan, there are some instructions or guidance you may wish to leave your heirs that don’t naturally fit into a will, trust or other estate planning documents. This is where a Letter of Instruction can come in...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Mar 11, 2014 | Uncategorized
People with substantial assets, and those who are about to receive them, are wise to look for ways to protect those assets. Here are five asset protections strategies that can help you preserve your wealth:Increase liability insurance. If you come into sudden wealth...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Mar 11, 2014 | Uncategorized
Once you’re an adult, the most difficult subject to discuss with your parents has nothing to do with “the talk” you may have had as a teenager. It’s about finances — specifically, their finances. Research shows that approximately 40% of...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Mar 11, 2014 | Uncategorized
Not everyone loves retirement. In fact, there are many retirees who, after a few months of doing not much of anything, find they are missing the structure, steady paychecks and social opportunities their old life provided.Here are 10 reasons you might want to delay...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Mar 11, 2014 | Uncategorized
Thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court decision last June that struck down key provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), there have been some significant changes to the rules governing tax-deferred retirement accounts.The IRS announced last year that it would...
