The call came four days after her husband died. A credit card company. Forty-one thousand dollars on his account. The representative told her she was responsible and asked when she could start paying. She was grieving and certain she had no choice. She started writing checks. She called me six weeks later, after three payments...Read More

She found the notebook in the top drawer of her mother’s desk. Six pages, every account listed by hand. Username, password, recovery question, one after another. Her mother had been organized her whole life, and the notebook was proof of it. Then she tried to log in. The bank account asked for a six-digit code...Read More

There are two kinds of fathers. The first kind coaches the games, makes the school plays, stays up late with the science projects, and loves his family in every way you can see. He thinks about what would happen if something happened to him. Maybe on a long drive home. Maybe after a close call....Read More

A cautionary tale still unfolding a decade later On April 21, 2016, the world lost one of the most meticulous, controlling, and visionary artists of the 20th century. Prince Rogers Nelson — the man who battled Warner Bros. over his master recordings, changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol in protest of his record label,...Read More

Every Mother’s Day, we scramble for the perfect way to say thank you. Brunch reservations at a favorite Tex-Mex spot. A bouquet of bluebonnets. A sentimental card filled with words we mean but rarely say out loud. And while none of that is wrong (your mom probably loves all of it), there’s a different kind...Read More

Jimmy Buffett built an empire around the laid-back “Margaritaville” lifestyle, but his $275 million estate has become anything but relaxing for his family. The legendary singer’s widow and his longtime business manager are now locked in a bitter legal battle that could have been avoided with better planning and communication. In this article, you will...Read More

Whether it is called “The Great Wealth Transfer,” “The Silver Tsunami,” or another catchy phrase, one fact remains clear: an enormous amount of wealth will pass from Baby Boomers to younger generations over the next few decades. Many experts believe this will be the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history. Because no one knows...Read More

When most people think about estate planning, they picture paperwork and what happens after someone passes away. But the truth is, the most important part of planning happens while you are living your life, raising your family, and making decisions every day. That is why we call what we do Life & Legacy Planning®. It...Read More

If you are in a blended family, you may believe the simplest estate plan is also the fairest one:“I’ll leave everything to my spouse. They’ll take care of my kids.” That approach often works in a first and only marriage. When you and your spouse share the same biological or adopted children, the surviving spouse...Read More

Have you ever heard horror stories about families fighting over Grandma’s jewelry or getting stuck in a never-ending legal battle after someone passes away? Or how long it can take to sell a house tied up in probate? What about loved ones being denied their inheritance entirely? Unfortunately, these situations happen every day. Even celebrities...Read More