November 11 is Veterans Day, and people around the country are taking some time to remember the contributions that have been made by former service members. In this post we would like to share some thoughts about retirement and estate planning for veterans.
The Basics
Veterans have the same concerns that we all do when it comes to estate planning. You want to make sure that you are taking all the appropriate steps with regard to the transfer of your assets after you pass away. It is also important to be financially prepared for the different stages of life.
When it comes to the latter component, if you are a careerist you have some great opportunities when it comes to retirement planning. The military pension that service members are entitled to after at least 20 years of service can be a fantastic supplement to Social Security income.
In addition, many people embark on careers in the private sector after serving 20 years. If you joined up after college at the age of 22 for example, you would be just 42 when you leave the service.
You would have an extraordinary resume. Your undergraduate education would have been in place before you joined, and you may well have added onto that while you were in the military.
This presents an extraordinary opportunity for wealth building. You could be drawing a significant retirement pension while you are traversing a civilian career path. If you plan ahead effectively, you could potentially accumulate quite a bit of wealth while you enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.
This would all lead to the ability to enjoy your retirement years to the utmost once you decide to put your working years behind you.
Legacy Planning
Service members are inherently involved in history making. When you have served in the Armed Forces, especially during a time of war, you have experienced things that civilians simply cannot fully grasp.
A legacy plan can involve leaving behind autobiographical notes or memoirs. This can be a gift that has a lasting impact that transcends dollars and cents.
Veterans should definitely consider putting their experiences into writing. You can include these memoirs among your estate planning documents. Family members can learn much, and perhaps ancestors yet unborn can learn some history when they read your reminiscences.
There is also the matter of physical mementos. Veterans often retain ownership of items that hold a great deal of significance to them. When you share the stories that are attached to things that you will be leaving behind, you imbue these items with meaning that can be felt over the generations.
Honoring Veterans
We would like to thank all veterans for their service. Without their sacrifices we would not have the freedoms that we enjoy each and every day.
The baby boomer generation is comprised of people who were born from 1946 to 1964. This group is reaching the age at which people typically retire, but studies are showing that a very significant percentage of them are not prepared financially.
There are a number of contributing factors to this lack of preparation. One of them is the idea that Social Security will be enough to finance a comfortable retirement. When you look at the facts you see that Social Security is really only going to provide a modest safety net, and many people find this out when it is too late to make up for lost time.
Another reason why some people don't plan ahead for retirement is that they expect to receive significant inheritances. This may be a mistake because research is indicating that many baby boomers will be inheriting less than they may expect.
A study done by Boston College's Center for Retirement Research looked at the anticipated inheritances of baby boomers. They found that from the middle of 2006 to the middle of 2010 the amount of projected inheritances dropped by 13%. The financial crisis of 2007 and 2008 definitely took its toll on the inheritances that many baby boomers were counting on.
Increased longevity is another factor.
The segment of the population that is at least 85 is growing faster than any other age group. Clearly, when you live to an advanced age you are incurring expenses for a longer period of time, and that is going to reduce the amount that you have to pass along to your children and grandchildren.
Receiving an inheritance can definitely give you a financial lift. However, it is not wise to count on anything, and it is really up to each one of us to take personal responsibility for our own financial well-being.
Back in the late 1980s through to the early 1990s Peter Barton played the role of Dr. Scott Grainger on The Young and the Restless, a popular soap opera. Undoubtedly he had many fans during that era, but one of them would surprise him many years later.
Barton worked on a film called Hell Night in 1981 with fellow actor Kevin Brophy. They became friends while they were filming the movie, but they never knew that they were joined together in the mind of an Illinois man named Ray Fulk.
Fulk died last summer in possession of over $200,000 in cash and certificates of deposit. He also owned 160 acres of property that has been appraised at around $1 million.
In 1997 an attorney named Donald Behle was retained by Fulk to draw up an estate plan. He told the attorney that Peter Barton and Kevin Brophy were his friends, and he wanted to leave his entire estate to them after $5000 was set aside for an animal welfare group.
The actors never actually met Ray Fulk in person. Behle went through his client's papers and found out that Brophy and Barton had responded to letters sent to them by Fulk, who presumably was a fan of their work.
This is certainly an unconventional decision, but at the same time Fulk had no family and no close personal relationships and he had to leave his resources to someone.
You can do what you please with your estate, but if you are going to make decisions that could be brought into question you would do well to work with an estate planning attorney to state your final wishes in an ironclad manner.
A report was made available by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010 stating that around 26% of minors under the age of 21 were living in single-parent households - an alarming statistic.
Everyone hopes to live a long and healthy life, and in fact the average lifespan at this time is 78 years. Of course, this is an average, not a guarantee. Everyday we read reports about young people dieing and leaving minor children behind.
We all recognize the fact that accidents take place every day that kill young people. Other young adults pass away as a result of catastrophic illnesses. It is just not going to happen to us, right?
When people who die at a young age leave behind minor children, it is seldom that they have taken the time or opportunity to properly provide for their welfare.
The children of single parents are vulnerable. All single parents absolutely must have an estate plan in place that names a guardian to care for the children.
We should also have sufficient life insurance to provide a financial underpinning for the children throughout their lives. To make sure that the funds are properly managed should this become necessary you could include a testamentary trust in your last will. You may want to consider a revocable living trust instead, so a court does not need to supervise the guardian with annual hearings.
To learn more about why estate planning is so important for the parents of dependent children please take a moment to download our free report and read it at your earliest convenience: Estate Planning for Parents of Young Children
There are certain responsibilities that you may not have addressed for one reason or another, and for many people estate planning is one of these.
When you are busy with your day-to-day life, time can get past you in a hurry, and some things are simply left undone.
Now that we are in a new year you may start to take stock of the things that you would like to accomplish during 2013. We would like to urge you to make estate planning a priority this year. If you have an estate plan, make this the year you have it reviewed and updated.
All adults should have an estate plan in place that includes a method to transfer assets, income replacement for the benefit of family members, and advance health care directives that would come into play in the event of a medical emergency.
Estate planning is not something that is only relevant for senior citizens. It is true that the average lifespan is 78 years, and many people live well beyond this average age.
There are, however, no guarantees for any of us. You may be a young adult with minor children in the home who are totally dependent on you. From that perspective it could be said that estate planning is as important for younger adults as it is for senior citizens who have grown children who are self-supporting.
It is quite simple to put an estate plan in place. All you have to do is contact us for a free estate planning consultation and we will do everything possible to assist you as you make preparations to ensure the security of those that you love.
Your estate represents everything that you have worked for throughout your life. And, passing along your legacy to your loved ones will be your final act of giving to those that you care about the most.
This is a very profound act, and it is important to go forward in an informed and intelligent manner when you are making preparations for the inevitable.
It in not unusual for many to lack an understanding of estate planning techniques. Our firm has developed a series of special reports that we have prepared as part of our educational initiative. One of the reports that we are making available at the present time examines the probate process.
You may have heard the term "probate" without having a complete grasp on exactly what it is. If you download this report and take the time to review the information contained within it you will no longer look upon probate as a mystery. To obtain a copy of the report click this link and complete the form that you will see to the right of the page:
Nevada Probate Report
Once you gain an understanding of the probate process you will see why it is important to work with a good estate planning lawyer when you are establishing your estate plan. If you have questions, please contact us at (775) 823-9455 to set up a free consultation.
It is no secret that the gaming industry is very prominent here in the state of Nevada. Many families have been able to build wealth working within this industry, and it is a very important part of our state's economy.
However, far too many residents of our state are gambling with the future of their families.
Every day that you go without an estate plan, or with an estate plan that is not current, is a day during which you are rolling the dice.
Statistics tell us that almost no one under the age of 50 has all the appropriate estate planning documents in place. Even though the number having an estate plan in place is increased for those over age 50, the majority are still procrastinating. In addition, countless people who do have some type of estate plan in place have inadequate plans due to improper advice, changes in circumstances or changes in the law.
If you die without a last will or any other estate planning documents having been executed, the court will be in charge of deciding how your assets are distributed. This probate process could take a very long time, because the court will have to interpret the laws of "intestacy." These rules of succession may not be in line with how you would have wanted your assets divided among your family members.
Your family could also lose a great deal of money to the estate tax if you were to pass away without having taken any steps to gain tax efficiency.
Don't take risks; take action. Pick up the phone right now to set up a consultation with a licensed and experienced Washoe County estate planning attorney.
When you own a dog or a cat (or any other type of pet) as a senior citizen you gain a lot of benefits. The companionship that a pet can provide can be priceless to a person who may be experiencing a bit of loneliness. Pets provide hours of free entertainment, and they can help to keep you active as you endeavor to give your pet adequate exercise.
At the same time, you do have to concern yourself with the possibility of passing away while your pet is still alive. Many people wonder exactly how they should proceed to make sure that their pet is provided for, so we have prepared a report that answers your questions.
Our report is available to you for download absolutely free of charge. If you want to obtain answers to the questions you may have about pet planning simply click this link and complete the form:
Nevada Pet Trusts
Creating a pet trust for the benefit of your animal companion will give you peace of mind knowing that your friend will be cared for even after you are gone. There will be money set aside for your animal's care, and you can leave behind instructions with regard to exactly how you want the pet cared for after your passing.
If there is anything left over in the trust after the pet dies these funds would be inherited by a beneficiary that you name when you create the trust.
We encourage you to download the free pet planning report, learn about pet trusts, and ultimately take action for the well-being of your best friend on four legs.
Knowledge is power in every walk of life, and this certainly applies to the field of estate planning. When you learn all of the facts you understand why certain courses of action are necessary to preserve your wealth and optimize your financial position with the future in mind.
The above paragraph can seem like mere words on a computer screen. But in fact, individuals who do not understand all of the details often times make errors of commission or omission that are extremely costly.
Our firm is serious about spreading sound information throughout the greater Washoe County area. To this end we have developed a series of informative reports covering a number of different aspects of estate planning.
One of our reports looks at the entire process of estate planning from an overview. If you would like to download this valuable report take a moment to fill in the form that you will see off to the right after clicking this link:
Northern Nevada Estate Planning Report
This report will give you a solid foundation of information to work with going forward. It touches upon wills, trusts, advance directives, asset protection, estate tax efficiency strategies, small business succession and much more.
After reading the report you may be motivated to take action for the well-being of those that you love. If you would like to schedule a free, no obligation consultation get in touch through the contact page on our website or over the phone. We can be reached at (775) 823-WILL.
At Anderson, Dorn & Rader, we feel a responsibility to do everything possible to make accurate estate planning information available to members of the greater Reno-Sparks community.
Many people don't take action because they don't understand why action is necessary, or where to start. When you become apprised of the facts you are likely going to be motivated to take the appropriate steps for the well-being of those that you love.
There are many ways that we endeavor to make information available including the ongoing informative posts that we consistently offer here on our firm's blog.
We have also developed quite a library of informative estate planning reports that can be downloaded and read at your convenience. Currently we are offering access to our report on living trusts.
Should you be interested in downloading our free report (that is informational in nature rather than being promotional) simply click this link: Nevada Living Trust Report
A living trust can be a very attractive alternative to a last will as a primary vehicle of asset transfer. This is largely because of the fact that these transfers can take place directly between the trustee and the beneficiaries absent the need for probate court supervision.
This free report will provide you with all the details regarding the benefits of living trusts. There is no substitute for sound information coming from a truly reliable source, and we urge you to take advantage of this valuable educational opportunity.
We are available to provide you with information about our free educational Webinars that include a free consultation if you have further questions after you read the report. To register or get more information, simply give us a call at (775) 823-9455 or get in touch through the contact page on our website.
A lot of people procrastinate when it comes to estate planning, and in fact the majority of Americans have not executed all the appropriate estate planning documents.
This pattern of procrastination is not confined to single individuals who have no children. Many parents who have minor children do not have an estate plan in place either, and this is absolutely unwise.
To lend a hand and provide information we have created the K.I.S.S. the Kids program.This acronym stands for "Keep the Inheritance Safe and Secure for the Kids."
We want people to understand just how important it is to make sure that their minor children are provided for financially, while avoiding foster care or protective custody. Also, parents need to understand that children cannot consent to medical procedures. If you happen to be away when a child needs medical attention, who is legally authorized to give consent?
As young people, we tend to procrastinate with regard to estate planning is because we feel we will have plenty of time to execute an estate plan "later on." Unfortunately, later on arrives too soon for many families and their planning is not in place.
The stark reality is that people of all ages pass away every day, and when you go through life without an estate plan you are taking a major risk. Sadly, you will not be the person who pays the price if the unthinkable was to take place. It is the children that you will be leaving behind that would suffer the consequences.
We invite you to visit our webpage that is dedicated to the K.I.S.S. the Kids program. To get there simply click this link: Anderson, Dorn & Rader Present “K.I.S.S. the Kids”
A couple of years ago a legislative measure was passed that has subsequently been named the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010. This legislation re-unified gift/estate tax exclusions.
In 2011 the amount of the unified gift and estate tax exclusion was $5 million. This year the exclusion has risen to $5.12 million to account for inflation.
Throughout both 2011 and 2012 the maximum rate of the gift tax, the estate tax, and the generation-skipping transfer tax has been 35%.
As a result of the above, people who have resources that do not exceed $5.12 million have been more or less immune from taxes on such transfers to their loved ones.
However, things are changing in the very near future.
This tax relief act is going to expire at the end of 2012. If this expiration takes place without any new legislation being enacted the exclusion will go down to $1 million while the top rate rises to 55%.
Those who have resources in excess of $1 million may want to consider giving gifts during the 2012 calendar year. There is, of course, a very limited window of opportunity left because the end of the year is rapidly approaching.
The act of funding certain types of trusts such as dynasty trusts could be taxable under gift tax regulations. Aside from giving direct gifts, however, there are methods that could allow you to take advantage of this larger exclusion to fund an irrevocable trust for the benefit of loved ones. These methods may allow for discounting, so an even greater amount may qualify for the exclusion.
Giving shares in a family limited partnership or family limited liability company may also be a possibility.
These methods are relatively sophisticated, so if you are serious about wealth preservation you would do well to discuss this temporary opportunity with a qualified Reno estate planning lawyer as soon as possible.
Back in July the actor Sherman Hemsley died at his home in El Paso, Texas at the age of 74. We reported on this a while back and there is now some updated news to share.
A court date wasset for Halloween day in El Paso. The probate court judge has required the individual challenging the estate, Richard Thornton of Philadelphia, to provide the results of a DNA test.
Thorton says that he is Sherman Hemsley's brother by blood. Hemsley left behind a last will leaving everything to Florida Enchinton, who was referred to as his "beloved partner" in the will. Reports indicate that she was also his manager.
Hemsley's body is still being held in an El Paso funeral home and no services can be held until the matter has been resolved by the court. These facts seems to disturb Enchinton more than anything. It should be noted that observers suggest that the value of Hemsley's estate is quite modest.
The probate process does indeed open the door for those who want to challenge the stated wishes of a deceased individual, and as you can see from this case it can be quite time-consuming.
There are however things that can be done to avoid probate and arrange for future asset transfers in a private, confidential, and direct manner.
If you would like to gain an understanding of probate avoidance strategies as you plan your own estate, don't hesitate to pick up the phone to set up an appointment to speak with a qualified Reno NV estate planning lawyer.
As local northern Nevada estate planning attorneys we take our commitment to the community seriously. Making sure that your wealth is preserved for future generations is extraordinarily important, and many people don't know much about legacy planning.
This venue on the Internet is one way to push out good information, but we also understand the importance of the human element. With this in mind we regularly offer Webinars that are quite informative, and entertaining. You can attend for free if you register in advance while there is still room.
The Webinars that we have coming up in October and November are listed below:
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Hampton Inn & Suites
Carson City, Nevada
2 p.m to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Hyatt Place
Reno, Nevada
2 p.m to 4 p.m.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Holiday Inn
Sparks, Nevada
10:00 a.m to 12:00 Noon
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Hyatt Place
Reno, Nevada
2 p.m to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Hampton Inn & Suites
Carson City, Nevada
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Hyatt Place
Reno, Nevada
2 p.m to 4 p.m.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Holiday Inn
Sparks, Nevada
10:00 a.m to 12:00 Noon
We will be covering a wide range of topics including wills and trusts, incapacity planning, advance health care directives, wealth preservation, legacy planning, and more.
If you are interested in registering to attend one of our Webinars simply give us a call at (775) 823-WILL (9455) or visit this page on our website: Reno/Sparks/Carson City Estate Planning Webinars.
Will be having some more Webinars in December if you cannot attend any of these dates.
On May 10 of 2012 we lost an iconic figure in the world of automotive design and racing. Carroll Shelby died at the age of 89. He left behind a colerful legacy that includes the classic AC Cobra and Shelby Mustang designs.
Following his death there was a story circulating about some difficulties between his seventh wife Cleo and his three children. The three children reportedly contended that their father wanted to be cremated, and they had signed documents to prove it. Cleo did not accept the validity of these documents. She said that he wanted to be buried and that final arrangements were her responsibility and right to make.
While this dispute was taking place the final services had to be postponed while the body of the legendary automotive designer was held in a morgue. This unpleasant situation was a source of great dismay for the many friends and admirers that Carroll Shelby had around the world.
There is however some good news to report about the matter. The parties finally came to an agreement to direct the cremation of Shelby's body.
This situation illustrates how easy it is for people close to you to disagree after you pass away. Because of this it is important to express your desires in binding estate planning documents. By taking these steps you lessen the likelihood of a dispute among your loved ones concerning these types of decisions made after your death.
Estate planning for high net worth families is extraordinarily important given the realities of the federal estate tax and any damage that could be done via litigation. In addition to these protections you also have the ability to reach out and support nonprofit entities that you believe in while gaining tax advantages in the process.
This may seem self-evident to anyone who has the financial savvy to have accumulated a significant store of wealth. You must, however, be diligent because constant adjustments may be necessary as things change.
There are changes that take place in your own life such as a divorce, getting remarried, and watching family members depart while others join the family. Of course very significant changes in your financial standing are relevant as well.
In addition to these things that can take place in the life of an individual there are also very important changes that reverberate throughout society as a whole. For example, in 2013 the estate tax exclusion is going down to $1 million while the rate rises to as much as 55%. These parameters will also apply to the gift tax and the generation-skipping transfer tax.
The portability of the estate tax exclusion between spouses ends in 2013 as well. Besides the increased exposure to estate taxes, taxes on dividends and capital gains will be going up if the currently existing laws are not changed in the very near future.
To keep wealth intact you must be ready to adjust along the way, so take advantage of an annual review with your estate planning attorney and stay on top of your financial health.
Reno estate planning attorneys emphasize the need for advance planning even for a relatively young adult. You never know what the future holds. Procrastinating to another time to establish your estate plan could be leaving people that you love in a difficult situation should the unexpected take place.
This is something that is demonstrated by the estate of the author Stieg Larsson, the Swedish wordsmith who is known for the novel The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and other works.
Larsson had ammassed millions of dollars in his estate. He died in 2004 at the age of 50 in Stockholm after walking up several flights of stairs because the elevator in the building that housed his office was broken.
The author had lived with his partner Eva Gabrielsson for many years. They never got married due to certain nuances of Swedish law. Larsson received many death threats throughout the course of his life so he kept his location confidential. Under Swedish law people who get married must make their addresses available to the general public so the couple did not marry for security reasons.
No valid will existed at his death. As a result the author's brother and father inherited his estate through court proceedings. His partner, who contended that he was never close to his father and brother, received nothing.
As you can see, you are not the one who will suffer the consequences if you decease without establishing a proper estate plan. Those that you love may be left behind to deal with the aftermath.
Imagine living with someone for 10 years as a committed partner. Your partner is diagnosed with a terminal illness and he or she creates the Last Will making you the executor and the sole heir. You have known this individual for 20 years and you have been made aware of the fact that he or she has never been married and had no children.
After your beloved one passes away you will be grieving and anxious to take care of final arrangements in accordance with the wishes of the decedent. This is the situation that a woman named Flora Enchinton experienced recently. She was the partner of the recently deceased actor Sherman Hemsley. He was the individual who portrayed the character George Jefferson on the classic television sitcom The Jeffersons.
Hemsley apparently lived a simple life. He resided in El Paso, Texas with Enchinton and this is where he died. He reportedly had a much different personality than that of his on-screen alter ego. Hemsley was a shy, quiet, and unassuming man who had no interest in publicity or attention.
Flora Enchinton is being forced to deal with a difficult situation. The estate is being challenged by a Richard Thornton, who contends that he is the actor's brother. For some reason Thornton thinks that he is entitled to the assets that Sherman Hemsley accumulated throughout his life.
Because of the realities of probate law the court must hear his arguments and they are doing just that. As of this writing the body of the late actor is being held at the funeral home, and needless to say this is a source of great dismay for Flora Enchinton.
