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Revocable trusts, which are sometimes referred to as revocable living trusts, offer many benefits with the primary one being the ability to control your assets during your lifetime. Of course, the other main benefit is the ability to dissolve the trust if and when necessary. There are, of course,...

Many small and medium business owners don't have a succession plan in place. Small business owners are often understandably focused on the day-to-day operations of their business, or they are reluctant to think about what will happen to their business in what might seem like a distant future when...

Probate is the legal process of handling a loved one's estate and assets after they pass away. While this process is essentially the same across America, each state has its own unique set of rules and regulations. How to Probate a Will in California Because probate is usually required in the stat...

If you have ever wondered how student loans affect your future, you're certainly not alone. According to a recent study, 43 million Americans take out student loans to pursue higher education. Many students across the country turn to financial aid in pursuit of a future that is fulfilling and fin...

Americans say this is where they would turn, if they found themselves in a financial crisis during retirement. Money Talks News' recent article entitled “5 Things Americans Will Do If They Run Out of Money in Retirement” says that an unanticipated and unwelcome event, such as an expensive illness...

If you have ever wondered how student loans affect your future, you're certainly not alone. According to a recent study, 43 million Americans take out student loans to pursue higher education. Many students across the country turn to financial aid in pursuit of a future that is fulfilling and fin...

The Treasury Department is on the cusp of changing a taxpayer-friendly regulation regarding federal estate taxes, but there's no need to panic. As long as taxpayers can show that their gifts are truly gifts, they should not be affected by the revision. The proposed amendment is designed to fix so...

When you set up your estate plan it is important to coordinate the legal planning documents that you or you and your attorney create with the document provided by your retirement account custodian and/or your life insurance carrier called a ‘Designation of Beneficiary.' The beneficiary designatio...

Investing for retirement is one of the most important steps you can take toward building a secure financial future for you and your family. The sooner you can start, the better. Contributing to a retirement account can help you work toward your goals and may provide tax advantages to boost your p...

When you lose your mate, you lose so much—your best friend, your equilibrium and your future together. Just when you're at your lowest, it hits you: You could lose a lot of money, too. Losing a beloved spouse is one of the most stressful events in life for a surviving spouse, so it's one we tend ...

Grantor retained annuity trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts, spousal lifetime access trusts, oh my! If you overhear two estate planning attorneys at a coffee shop, it would not be unreasonable to think that all clients have estate plans filled with trusts. For the average person, know...

Estate planning is always a difficult subject to deal with, because who wants to arrange things for when they die? In addition to attempting to arrange a spouse's funeral, a grieving person must try to locate the deceased's will, the executor, information on the family's finances and the various ...

One of the most important decisions you'll have to make when creating an estate plan is which estate planning law firm to work with. With so many Estate Planning Attorneys, it can be challenging to find the right one for your estate planning, says Diving Daily's recent article entitled “5 Factors...

Some problems can be avoided by proper planning, others by good practices during the estate administration process. Estate administration is the process of managing the estate when a loved one has passed. For the inexperienced executor, there are pitfalls to be avoided, warns the article “Top 5 P...

When it comes to death and disability, your will alone might not be enough. Thinking about death is unpleasant. However, when it comes to guarantees in life, it's one of the few. A properly prepared estate plan can take some of the uncertainty out of your money's future. Estate planning needs dif...

THE ESTATE PLANNING TEAM AT LAW OFFICES OF KENT W KEATING • THOUSAND OAKS At Law Offices of Kent W Keating, we work closely with other professional advisors, including Certified Financial Planner™ Practitioners, investment advisors, financial consultants, insurance professionals, Certified Public...

Trust funds are an important estate planning tool. They can protect your assets while you're alive and help ensure that you leave money to your children or other loved ones after you die. A trust fund is a legal entity you create that takes ownership of your assets and ensures that the assets are...

Sleeping too little or too much is associated with poorer cognitive performance and mental health. If you want to keep your mind sharp and maintain Senior Health, try to get seven hours of sleep every night in middle and advanced age, according to a new study from researchers at the University of...

Recent studies have investigated preventative measures for dementia. Protecting brain health and cognitive functioning as we age is crucial. The CDC estimates that 5.8 million people in the U.S. are now living with dementia. With that figure only getting larger, many recent studies have been focu...

Establishing a joint revocable trust can be an ideal estate planning tool for the benefit of your children, grandchildren and beyond. If you're married, you are eligible to use a joint trust instead of having individual trusts. This recent article, “Joint Revocable Trust: Estate Planning” from ao...

Questions around death planning can feel overwhelming: Cremation or burial or natural organic reduction? What will your family want, and what will it cost? Do you really need to think about all this if you're young and healthy right now—or can you put off these decisions until you're older or dea...

Family members of all kinds have fought over money matters since time immemorial, but it may be worse for cash-strapped caregiving families. The costs of caregiving activities, including hiring aides, buying supplie, and covering medical and pharmacy copays, negatively affect family caregivers' p...

Losing a loved one is never easy, even if you were anticipating the loss. During the hours and days following the death of a spouse or a close family member, you may be in shock and you will likely be disoriented, emotional and feeling like you're in a constant fog. If you are very close to the p...

Homes are illiquid assets that produce no income and come with ongoing costs for upkeep. Those issues can cause some snags with your trust. A typical estate at death will include a personal residence. It's common for a large estate to also include a vacation home, or family retreat. Leaving real ...

“Gray divorce” — the unfortunately named term for divorce after age 50 — is increasing among baby boomers. According to the Pew Research Center, the divorce rate has more than doubled for people over 50 since the 1990s. The Pandemic is also adding to the uptick, says AARP's recent article entitle...