Ways to Revise Your IRA After the Secure Act

by Tom Bates | Jan 31, 2020 | blog, Blog: Estate Planning

In December 2019, the SECURE Act was signed into legislation. This regulation is one of the most substantial changes to have occurred in the last few years. As a result of the SECURE Act, IRAs and required monthly distributions can end up having a substantial impact...

Second Marriages and Estate Planning

by Tom Bates | Jan 10, 2020 | blog, Blog: Estate Planning

Grey divorce refers to the end of marriages of people in their 50s and 60s. While it is true that the overall divorce rate in the United States has declined, the rate of divorce among this segment of the population is increasing. Another large group of older...

What to do Now That You Have an Estate Plan

by Tom Bates | Dec 5, 2019 | blog, Blog: Estate Planning

If you have finally made the substantial step of creating an estate plan, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you are done planning for the future. In reality, you are not finished yet. Instead, there are several important steps that you should take to...

Understanding When it is Time to Change Special Needs Plans

by Tom Bates | Nov 7, 2019 | blog, Blog: Estate Planning

One of the greatest mistakes that many people make about special needs plans are thinking that estate planning is a one-and-done process. Even after properly appointing a guardian, trustee, health care proxy, and other necessary agents for a special needs plan, there...

Common Mistakes Made During the Estate Planning Process

by Tom Bates | Sep 27, 2019 | blog, Blog: Estate Planning

None of us is perfect. Many of us are prone to making a mistake here or there. While mistakes in some areas of life can easily be looked past, in estate planning, mistakes have the potential to result in long-lasting consequences for your loved ones.  The following...