After a person dies, their money and property must be distributed to the right people, either according to their will or the state’s default distribution method. Most people want the settlement process to be completed quickly, but this process, called probate, can take between 18 and 24 months. This delay can create unnecessary stress. 5 […]
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A savings bond is a “debt security” issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to help pay for the U.S. government’s borrowing needs. When you buy a savings bond, you loan the U.S. government money which the government repays with interest after a fixed period of time. There are currently two types of savings […]
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According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 1.9% of all infants born in the United States in 2018 were conceived using assisted reproductive technology (ART). ART includes all fertility treatments in which both eggs and embryos are handled: The most well-known procedures in this category include artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilization, and cryopreservation (genetic […]
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Hoarding is not to be confused with general messiness, and it’s not an accurate way to describe someone who stockpiles a six-month supply of toilet paper. It’s actually a serious mental disorder that prevents people from discarding items, regardless of their value, and generates severe stress at the mere thought of doing so. It’s very […]
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If you’re a nurse, doctor, or frontline healthcare worker, you tirelessly care for others and may not have a lot of free time to work on your estate planning. But if you can answer the following questions or at least think them through, you can get a jump start on the estate planning process today. […]
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Many people are passionate about their collections, both the financially valuable (art or stamps) and the sentimentally valuable (mementos and postcards). If you have a collection—no matter its monetary value—you’ll want to include your treasures in your estate plan. Make arrangements in advance to ensure that the collection is handled in the way you want, […]
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The federal gift and estate tax exclusion is currently very high; in 2020, the amount equals $11.58 million for an individual and $23.16 million for a married couple. At this level, only very wealthy people need to be concerned about taxes at the federal level. This may change in 2026, when the increased exclusion amount […]
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Many people love to spend their summers at the beach, but experienced beachgoers know that unseen dangers can lie behind the joys of the sun and sand. For example, the undertow is a powerful water current below the surface, that moves away from shore as the waves approach. The undertow can knock a person off […]
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To all front-line and essential workers: Thank you for all of your hard work. You tirelessly give of yourself to care for the most vulnerable members of our society. In hospitals, therapy rooms, and patients’ homes, you protect them and you help them get the most out of today and gain a better tomorrow. You […]
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You may decide to give to a charity because you believe strongly in a cause or organization, but there are also additional personal benefits to this move that you may or may not have considered. For example, charitable giving can reduce your yearly income tax bill and remove value from your estate which can help […]
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