In our series on trust basics, we have talked about formation documents as well as the different types of trusts and their purposes. Once you have completed all the up-front work and have a trust, you must fund it. Tied in with funding a trust may be the need to...
Colorado does not levy a state tax on your estate and the federal estate tax exemption is currently $5.49 million per individual in 2017, so why consider filing an estate tax return? Portability. This provision in the tax code allows for the transfer of any unused...
The names of various trusts may sound like another language. Others may make you feel like you are lost in acronym soup, CRT, ILIT or a TSNT. Even the length of the trust instrument itself can vary based on your needs. One beneficiary might mean it is simple and...
Some of the misperceptions about trusts are that they are too burdensome or expensive. In many situations they provide a cost-effective vehicle to plan for the needs of a surviving spouse and smoothly transfer assets to the next generation. How do you determine...
Families have changed since the 1950s when the dream included a stay-at-home spouse and two or three children. Fast forward to 2017 and more variety exists in the shape and size of an ideal family. For more couples with a focus on dual careers, fertility issues or...
Memorial Day is a time to remember those who died serving our country. Its history dates back to 1868 when sacrifices made by soldiers in the Civil War were commemorated. It follows an tradition of decorating (originally called Decoration Day) the graves of loved ones...
In April, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation announced survey findings regarding opinions and experiences about end-of-life care and aging. In coordination with The Economist, they poled people in the US and three other countries. Some of the U.S. findings are...
They become a part of the family and often stay at home longer than the human children. Whether one of the most popular breeds such as a Labrador retriever, German Shepherd or a mixed rescue, the ASPCA estimates that 44 percent of households have a dog. And cats,...
Financial powers of attorney allow another person (an agent) to transact business on your behalf, including withdrawing money from your banking account or selling property. While simple in concept, it can be easy to make mistakes when using standardized forms.A...
Mild winters and year-round accessibility to parts and trails throughout the Rocky Mountains are some of the reasons listed by CNN in its ranking of best states to retire. In addition, Bankrate finds that Colorado residents are some of the happiest with great access...
