Provided by, Gabe Lajeunesse, AAMS® Edward Jones Investments It might not have made the headlines, but a recently passed piece of legislation could affect the IRAs and 401(k)s of millions of Americans beginning in 2020. So, if you have either of these…
Bank Pays Price for Refusing to Honor Request Made Under a Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney (POA) allows the person creating the POA, called the “principal,” to name a trusted agent who can act on his behalf in almost any situation. But because of the risk of abuse, many banks will…
Accounting for Gifts and Loans to Children in Your Estate Plan
No parents want their children to fight among themselves after they are gone. Sadly, conflicts often arise, especially when a parent has gifted or loaned money to one child and not others. However, a few key words in your estate…
Estate Planning for the Thankful, or Put Down the Electric Knife, Uncle Bob
While it may seem counterintuitive, Thanksgiving can actually be an excellent time for such a discussion. It’s one of the few times of the year when far-flung families come together. It’s an especially appropriate time for you to share with those you love that you’re grateful that your estate plan will spare them the painful, difficult decisions should illness incapacitate you. Continue reading
Five Estate Planning Myths
There are lots of misconceptions about estate planning, and any one of them can result in costly mistakes. Understanding who needs an estate plan and what it should cover is key to creating a plan that is right for you.…
Staying Healthy: 8 Health Benefits of Riding a Bike or an Electric Bike
By Larry Gilbert, guest contributor Riding a bike, to commute or just for fun, can significantly contribute to your health, improving cardiovascular conditioning, improving brain function, and helping you maintain a healthy body weight. Bike riding is one of…
What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Choosing the Wrong Executor
Among my Vermont Estate Planning workshops my clients most appreciate is the one called “Thrills, Chills, and Probate-Related Horror.” The probate process can seem deceptively simple to people who’ve never been through it. But in probate, seemingly minor errors or…
The Grandparents’ Gift of Love That Lasts Many Holiday Seasons
THE GRANDPARENTS’ GIFT OF LOVE THAT LASTS MANY HOLIDAY SEASONS It’s a scene familiar to many grandparents: small children in footie pajamas seated around the Christmas tree, tearing open one brightly festooned package after another and greeting the contents with…
What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Joint Checking Account with Adult Child
When a senior has a joint checking account with an adult child Many seniors add an adult child or other trusted family member to their checking account to insure their bills can be paid in case of emergency or for…
How To Stay in Control of Your Life by Naming a Guardian
When most people hear the legal term “Guardian,” they envision an individual’s control over their finances, their health – over their life! – being seized by some anonymous government bureaucrat. And this is really a shame, because, properly deployed, a…