Categories



Baby Boomers: Inheritance Conversations With Your Children

Lavelle & Finn


Not talking to your adult children about their inheritance comes at a cost. Do what you can to manage expectations for adult children as they forge their financial plans. Knowing their general inheritance situation can change their decision-making process and lead to better outcomes. These are practical matters of allocating resources for things like housing, […]

Report: The Current and Future State of Estate Planning

Lavelle & Finn


Over the next two decades, experts foresee Baby Boomer households transferring more than $84 trillion in generational wealth. Amid challenging economic times, it is more important than ever to protect your assets for yourself and your loved ones. Without a well-crafted estate plan in place, you may be putting your legacy at unnecessary risk. In a survey published this […]

New Year’s Resolution: Get That Estate Plan Done

Lavelle & Finn


Visiting your attorney to get your estate plan done is one New Year’s resolution that you should definitely keep. None of us knows whether or when we may find ourselves seriously injured or sick. But if it does happen, you may not be able to speak for yourself. That’s why it is so important to […]

Estate Planning: Should I Divide My Assets Equally?

Lavelle & Finn


Your heirs may not see eye to eye on family circumstances, particularly regarding inheriting your estate. Relationships can change and intensify when you die. Underlying issues can bubble to the surface, creating tensions over your estate and possibly tearing your family apart. Even if your children get along well, the distribution of your assets can […]

2024 Standard Protections for Spouses of Medicaid Applicants

Lavelle & Finn


Each fall, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) renews the federal guidelines that seek to protect individuals whose spouses are applying for or receiving Medicaid long-term care benefits. These protections, known as the Spousal Impoverishment Standards, help to support the financial well-being of seniors who continue residing at home while their spouse on Medicaid […]

Getting Social Security Checks While Living Overseas

Lavelle & Finn


Many retirees look forward to traveling in their retirement. More and more are actually retiring overseas, in part as a way to stretch savings. But what happens to retirees’ federal benefits while they are out of the country? The short answer is that although Social Security benefits are available to retirees in other countries, Medicare […]

What Are the Different Types of Adult Day Care?

Lavelle & Finn


Adult day care, also known as adult day services, includes programs that assist seniors in completing activities of daily living, such as bathing, going to the bathroom, and getting dressed. Adult day services also help older adults remain social as they age, an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you are the caregiver […]

Selling Your Life Insurance Policy to Help Cover Expenses

Lavelle & Finn


The National Council on Aging reports that more than 16.5 million adults 65 and older experience economic insecurity, with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Rising housing and health care bills can burden seniors on fixed, limited incomes. Life insurance is an asset that many older adults have. According to Vital Life, 57 percent of […]

2024 Annual Gift and Estate Tax Exemption Adjustments

Lavelle & Finn


With the arrival of the new year, revisions to the annual gift tax and estate tax exclusions will be going into effect, as recently announced by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Gift Tax Exemption for 2024 Every calendar year, you can gift up to a certain amount to another individual (or individuals) tax-free. These gifts can include […]

Using a QTIP Trust in Estate Planning

Lavelle & Finn


Estate planning is crucial when managing valuable assets and ensuring the smooth transfer of wealth to future generations. There are various types of estate planning tools available, some of which may be more useful depending on your circumstances. For some, a qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) trust may be one practical option to take into […]