Resume vs. Eulogy Virtues
May 6, 2020

A few years ago, New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote about two different sets [...]

Gratitude

The next time that you feel depressed, angry, envious, unhappy, or are simply having a [...]

14
Sep
Spoiling the Grandchildren

Having just sent my youngest off to Elon University in North Carolina, I’ve been reflecting [...]

07
Sep
Looking at the Prenuptial Agreement

Albert and Victoria were interested in marrying as they had cohabitated for many years, but [...]

24
Aug
It’s All in a Name

Names are important. A little boy named Wilfred today, compared to in the past, may [...]

17
Aug
Trust and Love

My favorite definition of love is ‘giving someone the power to destroy us and trusting [...]

10
Aug
When Everyone is Thinking the Same Thing

General Patton was once famously quoted “When everyone is thinking the same thing, then somebody’s [...]

03
Aug
A Digital World

So much of our lives are electronic and digital now, we don’t even realize it. [...]

27
Jul
The Importance of Communication

While communication with your team of legal, tax and financial professionals is important to put [...]

21
Jul
Should You Title Your Car In Trust?

Clients frequently ask whether one should transfer the title to their automobile into their revocable [...]

14
Jul
Creating Education Trusts

Over the years clients have asked me how to provide for educational gifts within their [...]

07
Jul
Asset Alignment

Did you know, however, that you can have the best estate planning documents ever drafted [...]

15
Jun
Acting in Concert

Did you ever wonder where the phrase “acting in concert” comes from? It may have [...]

08
Jun
Does Your Dog Bite?

One of my all-time favorite movie scenes is from The Pink Panther Strikes Again where [...]

25
May
The Vultures

Those ugly turkey vultures are quite ubiquitous throughout Southwest Florida. You see packs of them [...]

11
May
An Apprenticeship in Reality

According to Peterson, a significant number of parents today fail to socialize their children. They [...]

04
May
Island Residence Dreams Shattered

Many of my clients who live on the islands dream of leaving their beloved residence [...]

30
Mar
More Than Pushing a Button

We can accomplish so much these days simply by pushing a button. I just returned [...]

16
Mar
Heavy Lifting and the Do-it-Yourselfer

Twice a week I train with a personal trainer to help keep myself physically fit. [...]

10
Mar
Contract or a Covenant?

When considering your estate plan, I ask this question: do you consider it a contract [...]

09
Mar
The Perils of Joint Accounts

I hear this question all too often.  A client will come in, thinking they have [...]

23
Feb
Tax Law Provides Opportunities

You may be aware that the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act was enacted at the [...]

16
Feb
State & Local Tax Deduction Slashed

Many of you have heard that the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017 that [...]

09
Feb
Secret Trusts

Many clients have expressed a desire to create trusts for loved ones, but to not [...]

26
Jan
Myths About Estrangement

From time to time a client will not tell me about a child because they [...]

26
Jan
Never Go Into Retail

Growing up in Indianapolis, my family was close to my maternal grandparents who owned retail [...]

19
Jan
5 Signs a Caregiver is Stealing

What do you do when an heirloom bracelet goes missing? How about when a bank [...]

12
Jan
When You Don’t Avoid Probate with a Trust

A couple of years ago, a very nice couple visited with me in my office. [...]

22
Dec
Son Abusing Father’s Trust?

When you’re named as a trustee to a trust, especially a trust in which you [...]

22
Dec
Rings in Peanut Butter and Buried Treasures

Children of a recently deceased client learned an expensive lesson not too long ago after [...]

22
Dec
Homebrewed Amendments

What happens when a man dies with a will or a revocable trust that was [...]

22
Dec
Escaping Your Former State’s Taxing Authority

Regular readers of this column know that I like to educate on the importance of [...]

22
Dec
Where Are You From?

So where are you from? And if you own a residence in Florida and haven’t [...]

06
Nov
When an IRA Distribution Causes a Probate

Most clients who have revocable trusts believe that there won’t be a probate opened upon [...]

06
Nov
Deductions for Hurricane Related Casualty Losses

Many Florida residents, particularly those in Southwest Florida, suffered casualty losses from Hurricane Irma recently. [...]

22
Sep
When to Throw it Away

My father-in-law, Ronald, is a pack rat.  He and my mother-in-law can’t park their cars [...]

15
Sep
Trustee Liability

When naming spouses, children or other loved ones to serve as trustees in your testamentary [...]

01
Sep
Adapting: Technology and Wealth

As an estate planner, it is fascinating to me to see how some have acquired [...]

18
Aug
The Story of Uncle Benny

In my wife’s family lore they tell the story from many years ago about Uncle [...]

04
Aug
The Money-Making Power of Imagination

As Freeform (formerly ABC Family) is wont to do, a Harry Potter marathon aired this [...]

03
Aug
Never Go Out Without an Umbrella

Many retirees figure that once they move past the stage in their lives where they [...]

25
Jul
Back-Up Your Brain

Like many professional offices, ours has gone electronic and mostly paperless – at least as [...]

21
Jul
Home Is Where Rover Lives

Many who own residences both here in Florida and in some northern states often consider [...]

21
Jul
What?

A new client, Theresa, who recently relocated from a northern state, brought me her trust [...]

20
Jul
Resucing a Child with the Family Business?

You may be surprised to learn that more than 90% of American businesses are family [...]

20
Jul
Deeds, Warranties and Title Policies

Many don’t completely understand the different types of deeds that might be used when transferring [...]

18
Jul
The Third Rail

I recently visited New York, Boston and Chicago, and in each location I used public [...]

18
Jul
I Didn’t Say You Were Beautiful

It’s amazing to me how the written word is often misconstrued. I believe this happens [...]

17
Jul
The In-Laws

When drafting up wills and trusts, I sometimes have a client tell me that they [...]

12
May
Setting Expectations

Like many of you, over the past few weeks we entertained guests from northern locales [...]

04
May
Don’t Write in the Margins

While attending law school, I used to take a yellow highlighter and pen, writing in [...]

28
Apr
Two Hats

When my children were young, I used to read Dr. Seuss books to them. One [...]

21
Apr
Right Hand Left Hand

It’s frustrating when we receive conflicting advice about a particular topic, and that is as [...]

07
Apr
Recalculating

I’m always looking for shortcuts when driving, especially during busy season. Most long-time Sanibel residents [...]

31
Mar
Health, Education, Maintenance and Support

For those of you who have wills and trusts that contain testamentary (post-death) trusts that [...]

24
Mar
No Split Residency to Retain Dual Homesteads

At the conclusion of our recently held client workshops we open the floor for questions. [...]

28
Feb
Will vs Revocable Living Trust

Occasionally I am asked a basic estate planning question that I will review today, and [...]

24
Feb
Retaining Your Trusted Financial Advisor

What many clients don’t realize is that they may lose their trusted financial advisor when [...]

10
Feb
Changes When Becoming a Florida Resident

Many people move to Florida or establish residency here not only for the sunshine but [...]

03
Feb
5 Reasons for Baby Boomers to Update

I was born at the tail end of the baby boomer generation – which is [...]

13
Jan
Different Baskets

When choosing how to approach your estate plan, it’s important to realize that the different [...]

09
Jan
A History of Trusts

We take for granted that the tool of a revocable living trust is available to [...]

09
Dec
Jeopardizing Creditor Proof Life Insurance

Under Florida law, life insurance is exempt from the claims of creditors. The exemption is [...]

28
Nov
Don’t Name Minor Children as Beneficiaries

A common mistake, particularly with young parents who come into my office, is the naming [...]

16
Nov
Promissory Notes are Part of Your Estate

Ken and Barb have a joint trust that provides for one another and upon the [...]

07
Oct
It’s Not The Money or Property They Fight Over

I was very close to my great grandmother, whom I called “Bubby.” A framed picture [...]

06
Oct
Durable Power of Attorney vs Trustee

Many clients become confused between the difference of the duties and responsibilities of the person [...]

23
Sep
Removing and Replacing Successor Trustees

When you have a revocable living trust, you typically serve as your own trustee. Upon [...]

16
Sep
Same Sex Couples Estate Planning

The last few years have brought several favorable developments for same sex couples in the [...]

26
Aug
Who Qualifies as Your Personal Representative?

“James,” a widower, sat in my office as we prepared his will together. “My sons [...]

19
Aug
Trust Decanting

I’ve written in the past about a variety of ways to modify problem trusts. I [...]

01
Jul
Open Discussions with Your Adult Children

An adult child of a client who recently passed away contacted me to discuss what [...]

17
Jun
Spendthrift or Risk Tolerance?

A client, “Alec” discussed imposing a third party trustee on his son “Terrance’s” inheritance, while [...]

20
May
Art or Science?

“Calvin” visited with me recently, armed with spreadsheets describing the distributions he wanted his revocable [...]

08
Apr
Problems with Trusts

“I know that you’re big on revocable trusts,” Jennifer began during our initial client consultation, [...]

01
Apr