Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings & Happy New Year

We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year. My dad said that “The older you get, the faster time moves” and he was not kidding. 2012 has flown by. The year had many highs and lows and they’re will be much change in 2013. We’re thankful for all... [Read More]

Your Rental House Puts Your Personal House at Risk

If you own a rental house or apartment, where others are paying rent to reside on your property, it should never be titled in your personal name.  If so, and a tenant falls in the bathtub or on the stairs, your liability for their injuries, which could be lifelong, could take all of your assets. ... [Read More]

Don’t Wait to Do Estate Planning

Some people are waiting for the Estate Code to settle.  The Bush Tax Cuts of May 2001 expire January 1, 2013.  At that time, the Estate Tax exemption goes back down to roughly $1 million.  Therefore, any assets you own valued at more than $1 million could be subject to federal and state Estate Tax... [Read More]

Asset Protection – Do It Right!

I know a very bright and courageous entrepreneur who is trying to do Asset Protection, but they are being taken advantage of.  Unfortunately, this very bright person has bought into the “seminar circuit” and has attended seminars by a national speaker who travels and hits some high points, tells some horror stories about asset protection... [Read More]

Asset Protection Workshop – Very Interactive!

Our Asset Protection Workshop for Financial Professionals, CPAs, Accountants, and Insurance Professionals was very interactive between all parties and extremely insightful.  We learned from the Accounting Professionals how their clients look at protecting their assets; we looked at available insurance from the Insurance Professionals as to what they help insure; and we heard from Financial... [Read More]

Asset Protection Workshop – May 30

I will present the workshop “Five Common Asset Protection  Mistakes” on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.  The class will provide one hour of continuing education credit from the N.C. Department of Insurance, and is for CPAs, Accountants, Financial and Insurance Professionals. In one hour we will cover: 1.  Why you have... [Read More]

Are Your Assets Titled Correctly?

After you pass on, what you own moves by how it is titled.  If it is titled in your name, it goes to Probate Court, even if you have a Living Trust (aka Revocable Trust). If the asset is in joint names with right of survivorship (like with your spouse), it moves to the survivor... [Read More]

75% of Us Don’t Have a Current Will

Studies show that 75% of Americans do not have a current Will, let alone a current Living Trust, Health Care Power of Attorney, or Financial Power of Attorney.   In the April 25th edition of Forbes Magazine, they listed the seven most common mistakes made in Estate Planning.  Number one was not having a current Estate... [Read More]

Why Whitney Houston Shouldn’t Have Used a Will

Unfortunately, Whitney Houston used a Will based Estate Plan.  Her “Last Will and Testament,” or Will, was admitted into Probate Court in Atlanta, Georgia.  As guessed, Whitney’s 19 year old daughter is her sole beneficiary of the Will with payouts to her at ages 21, 25, and 30.  Meanwhile, the Trustee would make payments on... [Read More]