Mr. Jones was a self-made man. He was a successful business owner, a loving husband, and a proud father of three sons who had families of their own. Through decades of hard work, he had built a successful business and eventually sold it for $3 million. After the sale, Mr. Jones paid approximately $450,000 in…
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What do you want your family’s holidays to look like after you’re gone? Most people answer that question without hesitation. “I want my kids to still gather around the table.” “I want them to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas together.” “I don’t ever want money to come between them.” Those are wonderful goals. But here’s the…
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When it comes to money, everyone seems to have an opinion. Talk to your friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors, and you’ll likely hear ten different answers to the same financial question. One person swears by real estate. Another believes the stock market is the only path to wealth. Someone else insists on paying off every…
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Remarriage often represents a fresh start — a second chance at love, partnership, and building a future together. But unlike first marriages, remarriages usually come with financial history attached. Assets, debts, spending habits, children, support obligations, retirement accounts, and even emotional baggage around money can all become part of the relationship. The reality is that…
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Stress has a sneaky way of multiplying itself. You worry about work, money, family, or the future… then you start stressing about how stressed you are. It’s exhausting. Since it’s Mother’s Day season, maybe it’s worth asking: what would your mom say about all this? “Slow down.” “Take it down a notch.” “You don’t NEED…
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A while back, Money Magazine asked several successful people a simple question: What’s the smartest financial advice you’ve ever received? One response stood out. Richard Branson, billionaire founder of the Virgin Group, admitted that early in his career he simply didn’t know much about finance—and the best thing he learned was to stay humble about…
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Fame and fortune don’t protect anyone from poor planning. When it comes to death and taxes, celebrities face the same rules the rest of us do—just on a much bigger, more public stage. Here are ten estate planning lessons straight from the headlines: #10 – No Will, No Control Both Aretha Franklin and Prince died…
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I love starting my day with a little time in the Word, and recently I was listening to a sermon that hit me right between the eyes. The pastor asked a simple but powerful question: Where are you getting your advice? It made me pause. Every day, we let different voices shape our thoughts and…
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Eeek… Just hearing the words “family meeting” can make you cringe, right? Most of us don’t have great memories of them. They’re usually called in response to conflict—especially when kids are involved—or to address topics no one really wants to talk about. And once the kids move out, these meetings seem to disappear altogether. But…
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If you are paralyzed (in this regard), there is good news. You are not alone! 68% of Americans do not have a valid Will. 63% of those making more than $80,000 per year say that “procrastination” is the reason they have not done any estate planning. Yet 52% of Americans over 55 say it would…
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