John J. Diak, CFP®Jun 205 minDigital Estate Planning: 5 Steps to Protect Your Digital Assets Estate planning doesn’t end with your will. You should make sure there is a plan in place for your digital assets, also.
John J. Diak, CFP®Apr 115 minUnderstanding Special Needs Trusts If you have a disabled loved one, a special needs trust can give them access to additional assets without losing their benefits.
John J. Diak, CFP®Mar 215 minChoosing a Caregiver When Family Isn’t an Option Choosing a caregiver for a loved one is a daunting task that will likely have you navigating unfamiliar waters.
John J. Diak, CFP®Feb 75 minHow to Protect Your Children and Their Inheritance with a Trust Do you plan to leave everything to your children? Placing your assets in a trust is a good way to protect them from the downsides.
John J. Diak, CFP®Jun 7, 20217 minChecklist for What to Do When a Spouse or Parent Dies When a spouse or parent dies, there are lots of details to take care of. This checklist will help you know what to do so you avoid mistakes.
John J. Diak, CFP®Feb 8, 20216 minChecklist for Estate Planning: Review Estate Planning DocumentsEstate planning is a complex process that is never fully finished. Use this checklist to review your estate planning documents.
John J. Diak, CFP®Jan 11, 20214 minRevisiting Your Beneficiary Designations Periodically revisiting your beneficiary designations for insurance and retirement accounts is critical to ensure your final wishes are met.
John J. Diak, CFP®Dec 10, 20193 minEnd-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
John J. Diak, CFP®Oct 7, 20195 minIs 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
John J. Diak, CFP®May 1, 20198 min10 Smart Tips for Getting Organized with Estate PlanningCreating 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, 20196 minWhen a Family Member DiesWhen 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, 20194 minAn Executor ChecklistIt 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
John J. Diak, CFP®Oct 30, 20184 minMinimizing Probate When Setting Up Your EstateProbate 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.
John J. Diak, CFP®Apr 2, 20183 minAre 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
John J. Diak, CFP®Mar 20, 20183 minThe Risk of Being a Suddenly Single WomanWith a clear understanding of where she stands, financially, a widow may evaluate her investment and wealth management options and take step
John J. Diak, CFP®Jan 2, 20183 minTalking to Your Heirs About Your Estate PlanSome 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
John J. Diak, CFP®Dec 26, 20173 minAn 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
John J. Diak, CFP®Nov 7, 20173 minFinancial Priorities Young Families Should AddressParenting 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, 20173 minUnderstanding the Gift TaxPractically 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, 20173 minWho 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