Estate Planning for the Family Ranch – Part 2 of 2
For families who have held their land for generations, one question looms heavy: how do we keep the family farm or ranch alive and intact for the ones who come after us? This second article of a two-part series explores a range of contemporary estate planning tools that can help preserve both land and legacy. […]
Estate Planning for the Family Ranch – Part 1 of 2
Many years ago, I spoke at the State Fair of Texas with Dr. Red Duke, a Korean War veteran and legendary figure in medicine. Widely considered the best trauma surgeon in the world, Dr. Duke was the first physician to respond to President JFK following his assassination and immediately after, led the lifesaving surgery of […]
Combining Piggy Banks: A Lesson in Shared Finances
Recently, two of my sons got into a heated argument over a toy they had purchased together after combining their piggy bank savings. One claimed greater ownership because his piggy bank had been fuller. But neither had counted their money before merging it, leaving no way to determine individual contributions. I stepped in and declared […]
Survivor’s Checklist
Life experiences have the most profound impact on my learning. I do not think that I am alone in needing to experience something firsthand to gain a greater understanding and better perception. Unfortunately, with the passing of my dad last month, I’ve been able to gain a better grasp of all the financial tasks and […]
Watching the Sun Set
When you hear the term “sunset” you probably envision the beautiful colors of the sun setting beyond the horizon near the end of a day. Well, in a short time from now, a different type of sunset will affect many taxpayers and decisions they need to make. In 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act […]
Update Beneficiaries via Baby Steps
A lot is running through your mind when you leave the hospital and bring home a new baby. Whether it is your first, second, etc., or last child, making sure that your beneficiary designations are up to date is likely not a thought on the forefront. Between bottles, diapers, and baby snuggles, it can be […]
Opportunities in a Complicated Economy
The second-quarter GDP report released July 28th raised a red flag – the economy shrank for the second consecutive quarter. However, the August 5th jobs report pegged unemployment at only 3.5%, a sign that the US economy is still strong. So what’s the deal? Are we in a recession or not? The answer is complicated. […]
The Go-To Guide for Saving Our Seniors
The month of June commemorates Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Millions of elders in the United States are becoming targets for elder abuse, particularly financial abuse and exploitation. It is estimated that elders in the United States lose at least $2.6 billion dollars on an annual basis as a result of financial exploitation. With such a […]