The holiday season is upon us; from story time with sorely missed grandchildren to laughter with friends and family over long-cherished memories, there’s little doubt that “the most wonderful time of the year” has arrived. For most families, this season is a time of reflection and connection as we bid farewell to the old year…
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I’m so grateful Angela invited me to be a guest on the Life Planning 101 podcast. In this week’s episode, we talked about how technology — which makes our daily lives easier — has the potential to make things incredibly challenging for our loved ones, should something ever happen to us. One of the topics…
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The August 2008 Money Magazine offered up an article of several successful individuals talking about the smartest financial advice they have ever received. Billionaire and CEO of Virgin records, Richard Branson shared a story about his lack of knowledge in the financial realm and being humble about what you don’t know. Have you ever noticed…
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Have you ever been through the process of probating an estate? If so, you probably have a story or two you could share about it. If you haven’t, you may want to say a prayer that you won’t have to. We have always said that Texas is a friendly place to die. While this is…
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…with your adult kids. Should Inheritance Be a Retirement Strategy? That was actually the title of a Forbes article this year. And it’s really not a surprise when you consider just a few statistics: 63% of affluent 18-22 year old’s say that financial stability in retirement will depend on inheritance. 1 in 3 people are…
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Will your family have good Christmases and Thanksgivings after you are gone? Most of us would like to think so. We never want to believe our kids would fight over money or possessions. We ask this very question as we go through our Legacy Planning Process. The answer is almost always the same. Yes. Our…
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Bruce Schneier wrote an article in March of 2007 titled Why the Human Brain is a Poor Judge of Risk. Looking back, the timing is fine irony. Had more investors read his article, perhaps they would have lowered their overall risk in the markets prior to the Financial Crisis – which began in August of…
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All of their fame and money may be one thing, but when they die – as we all do – celebrities are not so different from the rest of us. The same estate planning blunders they make are the same ones we see on an every day basis. Here are the top ten lessons to…
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I have a confession to make: I love watching the talent on some of today’s reality shows. It is absolutely wonderful to see every day people working to fulfill their lifelong dreams of turning their passion into a career. Several years ago, on The Voice, Danielle Bradbery, a young lady from Texas who was 16…
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Wisdom isn’t something you are born with. Yet wisdom, once gained, can be the most valuable thing you achieve and maintain – second only to your relationships with God and those you love most in life. Wisdom is achieved through years of watching, listening, observing and experiencing. Much of the value we provide doesn’t come…
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