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.

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

Many IRA owners may not be aware that after their death, the primary beneficiary -- usually the surviving spouse -- may have the right to transfer part or all of the IRA assets into another account. Be vigilant about naming beneficiaries on retirement accounts -- and avoid hardship for loved ones. [Click to Tweet] Many investors have taken advantage of pretax contributions to their company's employer-sponsored retirement plan and/or make annual contributions to an IRA. If you

Estate planning can be a minefield of potential missteps, some of which could have far-reaching consequences. Many of the poor choices individuals make when planning for their own future or passing assets to their families are caused by "one-size-fits-all" planning strategies or well-intended advice from family or friends. Following are some common and potentially costly mistakes along with suggestions for avoiding them. Failing to plan. Whether drafting a basic will or craft

Many investors have taken advantage of pretax contributions to their company's employer-sponsored retirement plan and/or make annual contributions to an IRA. If you participate in a qualified plan program you may be overlooking an important housekeeping issue: beneficiary designations. An improper designation could make life difficult for your family in the event of your untimely death by putting assets out of reach of those you had hoped to provide for and possibly increasin