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Feb 8
6 min

Checklist for Estate Planning: Review Estate Planning Documents

Estate planning is a complex process that is never fully finished. Use this checklist to review your estate planning documents.

Revisiting Your Beneficiary Designations

John J. Diak, CFP®

Jan 11
4 min

Revisiting Your Beneficiary Designations

Periodically revisiting your beneficiary designations for insurance and retirement accounts is critical to ensure your final wishes are met.

End-of-Life Planning: Does Your Family Know Your Wishes?

John J. Diak, CFP®

Dec 10, 2019
3 min

End-of-Life Planning: Does Your Family Know Your Wishes?

End-of-Life planning should be a priority, it is the process of making critical decisions about how you want your healthcare, medical treat

Is Vulnerability Planning Factored Into Your Estate Plan?

John J. Diak, CFP®

Oct 7, 2019
5 min

Is Vulnerability Planning Factored Into Your Estate Plan?

Your estate planning should cover more than just what happens to your assets when you die. It also needs to account for how your assets are

10 Smart Tips for Getting Organized with Estate Planning

John J. Diak, CFP®

May 1, 2019
8 min

10 Smart Tips for Getting Organized with Estate Planning

Creating an estate plan in case of your death or disability can help your heirs avoid unneeded stress and uncertainty. Here are 10 steps to

John J. Diak, CFP®

Feb 26, 2019
6 min

When a Family Member Dies

When a family member dies there are a multitude of issues to look after, from getting a copy of the death certificate to finding insurance p

John J. Diak, CFP®

Jan 15, 2019
4 min

An Executor Checklist

It is no small responsibility to serve as an executor, especially for a complex estate. Prepare for the tasks ahead of you, so that you may

Minimizing Probate When Setting Up Your Estate

John J. Diak, CFP®

Oct 30, 2018
4 min

Minimizing Probate When Setting Up Your Estate

Probate can eat up as much as 5% of your estate. How can you exempt more of your assets from probate and its costs? Here are a few ideas.

Are Your Beneficiary Designations Up to Date?

John J. Diak, CFP®

Apr 2, 2018
3 min

Are Your Beneficiary Designations Up to Date?

Your beneficiary choices may seem obvious when you initially make them, time has a way of altering things. In a stretch of five or ten years

The Risk of Being a Suddenly Single Woman

John J. Diak, CFP®

Mar 20, 2018
3 min

The Risk of Being a Suddenly Single Woman

With a clear understanding of where she stands, financially, a widow may evaluate her investment and wealth management options and take step

Talking to Your Heirs About Your Estate Plan

John J. Diak, CFP®

Jan 2, 2018
3 min

Talking to Your Heirs About Your Estate Plan

Some of us may retire at 65 and live to 100 or 105. Advances in health care may make this a strong possibility. The corresponding question i

An Estate Plan or a Wealth Transfer Strategy?

John J. Diak, CFP®

Dec 26, 2017
3 min

An Estate Plan or a Wealth Transfer Strategy?

There are three degrees of estate planning: advanced, basic, and none at all. Basic estate documents may be in place but they may not convey

Financial Priorities Young Families Should Address

John J. Diak, CFP®

Nov 7, 2017
3 min

Financial Priorities Young Families Should Address

Parenting presents you with definite, sudden, financial needs to address. By focusing on those needs today, you may give yourself a head sta

John J. Diak, CFP®

Oct 31, 2017
3 min

Understanding the Gift Tax

Practically speaking, the federal gift tax is a tax on estates. If it wasn’t in place, the rich could simply give away the bulk of their mon

John J. Diak, CFP®

Jul 18, 2017
3 min

Who Needs Estate Planning?

If you don’t leave behind an estate plan, your family could face major legal issues and (possibly) bitter disputes; making the plan may leav

John J. Diak, CFP®

May 16, 2017
3 min

Tax Rules on Rental Property

A sale of income property incurs either a capital gain or loss. If you profit from the sale of income property, that profit is considered fu

John J. Diak, CFP®

Apr 18, 2017
3 min

When Someone Dies Without a Will

Every day, people die intestate. In legalese, that means without a will. This opens the door for the courts to decide what happens with thei

John J. Diak, CFP®

Apr 4, 2017
3 min

Key Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid

Many affluent professionals and business owners put estate planning on hold. Only the courts and lawyers stand to benefit from their procras

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Checklist for Estate Planning: Review Estate Planning Documents

Revisiting Your Beneficiary Designations

End-of-Life Planning: Does Your Family Know Your Wishes?

Is Vulnerability Planning Factored Into Your Estate Plan?

10 Smart Tips for Getting Organized with Estate Planning

When a Family Member Dies

An Executor Checklist

Minimizing Probate When Setting Up Your Estate

Are Your Beneficiary Designations Up to Date?

The Risk of Being a Suddenly Single Woman

Talking to Your Heirs About Your Estate Plan

An Estate Plan or a Wealth Transfer Strategy?

Financial Priorities Young Families Should Address

Understanding the Gift Tax

Who Needs Estate Planning?

Tax Rules on Rental Property

When Someone Dies Without a Will

Key Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid

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