Estate Planning

Often it can be too easy to put off making an estate plan or updating an existing one. Do not wait for something unexpected to happen.  Here are 5 mistakes to avoid before it’s too late.

PLEASE BE AWARE if you are also receiving benefits under CalSTRS (CalPERS if you are a California government employee), then Social Security may apply either or both of the following to your Social Security benefit: Windfall Elimination Provision or Government Pension Offset.

Healthcare does not have to wreak financial havoc on your retirement if you plan properly. The first step towards financial freedom in your golden years is research. No one can hit a target they can’t see, so blind estimates about costs are futile and potentially dangerous. It’s never too late to start developing a retirement budget, and the best way to do so is to get hard numbers.

Did You Remember to Designate a Beneficiary? When reviewing current beneficiary designation or if you are completing these forms for the first time, you need to consider not only who the primary beneficiary is, but also what happens if that primary beneficiary predeceases you.

What if you know exactly who you want as your child’s guardian? Or if you know exactly who you would not want to be guardian? You need a will if you want to choose who takes care of your child if you were to die before they reach 18.

Reviewing your estate plan will alert you to any changes that need to be addressed. For example, you may need to make changes to your plan to ensure it meets all of your goals, or when an executor, trustee, or guardian can no longer serve in that capacity. You’ll probably want to do a quick review each year, because changes in the economy and in the tax code often occur on a yearly basis. Every five years, do a more thorough review.

California has not had any kind of a statewide estate, gift, or generation-skipping transfer tax since prior to 2005, however, with the proposal of a new bill introduced by California State Senator Scott Wiener, that could all change.

An estate plan consists of numerous documents that compliment your living trust. If you are not familiar with your estate planning binder, it can be difficult and frustrating to figure out what each document is and what purpose it serves. Here is a quick description of the most common documents contained in your estate plan. If you are missing any of this paperwork, it is important to have your estate plan reviewed and updated.

A good estate plan typically includes a Health Directive where you appoint a trusted friend or family member to not only make medical decisions for you, but to also take care of how your remains are handled at your death.