Posts by James E. Hickmon, JD, MBA, CFP®
Administration Of Proper and Intestate Estates
We can demonstrate the importance of estate planning by comparing two estates with different approaches to estate planning. On one side of the continuum, we have an individual who has assets but no estate planning. On the other end of the continuum, we’ll have someone who has assets of the exact same nature, but they…
Read MoreHow Often Should I Review My Estate Planning Documents?
In a perfect world, you should review your estate planning documents every time there is a life event, such as a, Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce, or Retirement. You also want to review them with the acquisition or sale of a significant asset, like that of a business. These are times to pull out your estate…
Read MoreWhat Are the Most Important Components That Should Be Part of Everyone’s Estate Plan?
Determining what the objectives are, implementing a plan that meets those objectives in a way that conforms to the laws of the tax code and treasury regulations is important when planning any estate. To accomplish this, our approach is to sit down to listen to the client. The first question we ask is, “Tell us…
Read MoreWhat Exactly Is Estate Planning And When Do We Need It?
Estate planning encompasses a wide variety of subject matter, from how your assets may be titled and who is the beneficiary of your insurance to IRAs and 401(k)s, to the creation of business entities, the establishment of buy-sell agreements, the creation of trusts and gifting during your lifetime. The process allows you, rather than a…
Read MoreEstate Planning For Beneficiaries With Mental Illness
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 19.1% (nearly 1 in 5) of U.S. adults experience mental illness annually. Historically, discussions surrounding mental illness were taboo and off-limits. However, thanks to the hard work of mental health professionals and a generally greater awareness of the causes of mental illness, some, but not all, of…
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