Estate

10 Things You Should Know About Estate Planning for Singles

A guide to how to navigate estate planning as a single person....

A Tale of 2 Sponsors: How My Real Estate Investments Have Had Vastly Different Results

By Dr. Hamik Martirosyan It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was the sponsors with conservative leverage and fixed-rate loans. It was the sponsors with all variable loans and high ...

Why Skipping Probate Could Save Time And Money

There are many reasons to avoid probate when planning for your estate. Avoiding probate avoids the hassle of having to go to court, which can be costly....

12 Side Hustles for Stay-at-Home Moms (Remote & $25+/Hour)

As a stay-at-home mom, you offer a unique level of resourcefulness, creativity, and organization, making you an ideal candidate for a slew of side hustles. Below, we’ve shared some of the top si...

Letter of Instruction: How to Share the Critical Details That Are Missing from Your Estate Plan

By Christopher Avery, Guest Writer “Death never takes the wise man by surprise, he is always ready to go.” — Jean de La Fontaine Most people are un- or under-prepared for their inevi...

The Surprising Ways A Skilled Home And Auto Agent Can Protect Your Wealth

Home, auto, & umbrella insurance are too often a footnote in wealth management, but a good agent can make a huge difference....

Four Considerations for Moms Leaving the Workforce

If you want to make the transition from a full-time job to being a stay-at-home mom (or dad), here are some issues to keep in mind....

Budgeting for Personal Development and Putting $20,000 a Year into Yourself

By Dr. Dan Fosselman, Guest Writer There are multiple rules of thumb in personal finance. Set aside 15%-25% for savings, don’t spend more than 30% on housing, tithe 10%. John Maxwell, an author ...

Retired and 'Stuck' With a Mortgage Below 4%? You Have Options

You may feel like a mortgage prisoner, but your options may be more doable than you think....

13 Smart Estate Planning Moves

Follow this estate planning checklist for you (and your heirs) to hold on to more of your hard-earned money....

The Rise of the Forever Renter Class

I've paid over $350,000 of rent in my life. That averages out to $2,500 a month since mid 2012. And, with near record interest rates and elevated home prices, I may end up paying another $350,000 in r...

The World’s Largest What??!! 7 Months of Our RV Road Trip Complete, 1 To Go!

It’s pretty crazy to think that we’ve now been living in an RV for over 7 months. Yes, we’ve taken a couple of breaks and stayed at my mother-in-law’s house for a few weeks twi...

The Problem with Naming Your Estate the Beneficiary of Your IRA

Photo by: jb While it may seem like a simple idea to just make your estate the beneficiary of your IRA, thereby allowing you to make adjustments to your final beneficiaries via your will – there...

Analyzing Home Price Dynamics: A Guide To Smarter Purchases

Understanding how home prices fluctuate over time is one of the most intriguing insights gleaned from my post on the reasons behind property bidding wars. Learning how prices change will empower you t...

Six Essential Retirement Strategies for Baby Boomers

Emergency funds, estate plans, different kinds of insurance and smart investing strategies are all parts of a strong retirement plan....

Understanding Why People Get Into Property Bidding Wars

Well folks, as anticipated, bidding wars are back with a vengeance, at least here in San Francisco. If I were a real estate agent, I would never encourage my clients to engage in a bidding war. Winnin...

Work from Home Doctor Jobs: Opportunities and Requirements

As the world becomes more connected and technology continues to advance, the healthcare industry is evolving to meet the needs ... Read more...

Would Combining Will-Writing with the Mortgage Process Help?

No, but here’s what we learned. Writing a will can improve the transmission of wealth across generations, by preventing the dissipation of assets such as a family home when divided among multipl...

A Letter of Wishes: No Legal Power But Powerful Nonetheless

A letter of wishes lets you explain, in plain language, your intent behind your estate documents, potentially heading off any misunderstandings or disputes....

Capture The New Tax Breaks On Home Improvements

Know how to navigate the IRS regs to capture the tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act....

FTC Ban On Noncompete Agreements May Undermine Your Estate Plan

The FTC recently prohibited non-competition agreements (and non-disclosure or non-solicitation agreements),. This may adversely impact estate and succession planning....

Spring Is a Good Time to Clean Up Your Finances, Too

While you’re decluttering your home for spring, consider taking a crack at cleaning up your finances and old paperwork, too....

Performance Update: March Badness!

My main goal* was to build an investment and cash portfolio of$1,120,000* ($1,000,000 to retire on and $120,000 to pay off the house) in1500 days**, starting from 1/1/2013 and ending in February of 20...

Is Your Retirement Solution Hiding in Plain Sight?

Here’s how to use your home equity in combination with an annuity contract to produce late-in-life income....

Components That Affect Mortgage Rates The Most

Contrary to popular belief, the Federal Reserve does not exert complete control over mortgage rates. Instead, it influences them, with the bond market determining the subsequent course of action. The ...

Biden Sets New Nursing Home Staffing Rules

Nursing facilities that receive federal funding through Medicare and Medicaid (effectively all of them) will have to employ enough staff to provide at least 3.48 hours......

Where Should Financial Literacy Be Taught—Home Or School?

The antiquated argument that personal finance should be taught at home simply looks silly in 2024....

10 Things You Should Know About Selling Your Home to Downsize in Retirement

What to know about selling your home in order to downsize in your retired years....

Capital Distributions From Private Real Estate Investments Are Wonderful

Recently, I received a capital distribution from a private real estate fund, and it couldn't have come at a better time. The experience brought me both joy and relief, prompting me to share it in the ...

Expand Your Home and Welcome Family Members

With the high cost of housing in much of the United States (as well as other countries), many people are looking for ways to accommodate more family members in their existing properties. Whether your ...

Revocable Trusts: The Most Common Trusts in Estate Planning

Revocable trusts allow the trust maker complete control over the assets and can be quite efficient when it comes to capital gains and income taxes....

Reimagining Their Decrepit Farmhouse into Forever Home

New Yorkers create a space that’s better suited to life in their 60s...

Eight Steps to Take When Settling an Estate as the Executor

Being the executor of an estate can be overwhelming, but breaking the process down into individual steps can help make it much less daunting....

Performance Update: February Rebound!

My main goal* was to build an investment and cash portfolio of$1,120,000* ($1,000,000 to retire on and $120,000 to pay off the house) in1500 days**, starting from 1/1/2013 and ending in February of 20...