How joint ownership affects capital gains tax. Joint homeownership affects who pays capital gains tax when you sell, the cost depends on several factors. Q: I own my house, free and clear in Arizona, together with my two sons. If I sell, the capital gains tax is 15 percent. Do we each have to pay [...]
In most states, estranged spouses are entitled to a portion of their spouse's estate. Protecting your assets, as in this reader's case, can be complicated but an estate attorney can help. Q: I was married in 2010. My husband left me in 2014. In 2015, I purchased a house. I have four daughters, none with [...]
What is a successor trustee? And, can she live abroad? We get questions like these fairly frequently, as immigrants to the United States often try to buy a home as quickly as possible. But, they may not have anyone living in the United States who they trust to take care of their wishes. Q: My [...]
Let’s face it: few people like to talk about life insurance, let alone buy it. Benjamin Franklin, who was instrumental in creating the first life insurance company, the Presbyterian Ministers’ Fund, subsequently found that various religious authorities were outraged at the practice of putting a value on human life. Criticism cooled, however, when it was [...]
You may have heard a lot about the importance of buying life insurance, but you may not be sure if it applies to you. Well I have a newsflash for you: It does. Before buying life insurance, it’s important to consider how much coverage you and your family will need. One of the biggest excuses [...]
No one wants to talk about death, but unfortunately far too many people put off discussing life insurance until it is too late. When you have others relying on you and your income, your death can spell disaster for them. The bottom line is that it is imperative to have a good life insurance policy in place [...]
September was Life Insurance Awareness Month, but it is always a good time to explore the insurance options that will help to protect your family. And especially when it comes to your kids, it’s never too late to start considering what benefits would enhance their financial future. When I see my adult clients procrastinating about [...]
Traditionally, conventional wisdom was that life insurance was generally not needed once you retired. This may or may not still hold true and will vary based upon your personal situation. Here are a few thoughts. As you near retirement, life insurance can be… An excellent estate-planning tool. If you have a large estate, life insurance [...]
Financial advice is unique. Most of it is dead wrong. The advice given by brokers (or “financial consultants,” as they like to be called) frequently has nothing at all to support it. If you ask most financial advisers about cash value life insurance, this is what you will hear: Buy term and invest the difference. [...]
Life insurance is one of my favorite insurance products to sell. Why? Because it’s a selfless investment you make in the ones you love so they can continue their lives after you’re gone without a financial hardship. Financial relief helps survivors to focus on recovering from the emotional hardship of losing someone they love. Life [...]
