Your Family Matters Blog
Pet Trusts Offer Protection for Your Furry Family
If you’re an animal lover and have a pet of your own, you most likely consider your pet to be a member of the family. Especially because your furry friends can provide protection, emotional support, and unconditional love, such consideration is often well deserved....
I Don’t Have Kids, So Why Do I Need Estate Planning?—Part 2
Last week, we shared the first part of our series on the importance of estate planning for those without children. If you haven’t read it yet, you can do so here. Here in part two, we discuss the other risks involved for those who forego estate planning. Someone Will...
Make Sure Your Kids Sign These Documents Before They Leave for College
Now that high school graduation has passed, many parents are preparing to watch their children become adults (at least in the eyes of the law) and leave home to pursue their education and career goals. Turning 18, graduating high school, and moving out is a huge...
I Don’t Have Kids, So Why Do I Need Estate Planning?—Part 1
It's a common misconception to think that if you don’t have children, you don’t need to worry about estate planning. But the fact is, it can be even MORE important to do estate planning if you have no children. Some of the common thoughts behind this mistaken belief...
How to Incorporate Family Values in Your Estate Planning
Baby boomers know money isn’t the only important aspect of estate planning. A 2012 study released by the Allianz Life Insurance; Co. showed baby boomers wanted to leave their family more than just financial assets. Researchers found baby boomers identified family...
The Key Differences Between Wills & Trusts
When discussing estate planning, a will is what most people think of first. Indeed, wills have been the most popular method for passing on assets to heirs for hundreds of years. But wills aren’t your only option. And if you rely on a will alone to pass on what...
3 Deadly Sins of Retirement Planning
Retirement planning is one of life’s most important financial goals. Indeed, funding retirement is one of the primary reasons many people put money aside in the first place. Yet many of us put more effort into planning for our vacations than we do to prepare for a...
Life is Multifaceted: Teach a Child to Be Open & Embrace Complexities
When you picture a “normal” family, what do you see? Is it the traditional notion of one male parent and one female parent, two kids, and a family pet? Or do you see something different? Or perhaps you reject the notion of a “normal” family altogether? Recent court...