Everyone needs a will. If you die without one, then the court gets to decide who inherits your property and who gets to care for your children. But what should you include in your will, and what should you leave out? In this post, we...
Holidays are a time for joy, laughter, pretty lights, great decorations, and delicious food. We gather with friends and family, we connect with past acquaintances, we enjoy festivities and special events. And in the middle of all the activities that go along with holiday seasons,...
Your home, vehicles, and investments aren’t the only things you need to include in your estate plan. You should also name beneficiaries for your personal property. Treasured items like a hope chest or a grandfather clock tell the tales of your family’s history. But passing down...
Keeping your will up-to-date is very important. Whether you want to add a new family member or new assets to your will, it’s best to make those changes as soon as possible. But even if you meet with your estate planning attorney on a regular basis,...
Before we stuff ourselves—quite literally!—during Thanksgiving dinner, the staff at Phelps LaClair loves to get together with their families and friends to participate in a morning turkey trot. Running is a great way to spend some time with loved ones while getting in some metabolism-boosting...
There is a quote from Jason Bourne in one of the early Bourne Trilogy novels: “Rest is a weapon.” Bourne was exhausted from days of sleeplessness. In spite of needing to stay vigilant, he recognized that he needed rest in order to be able to...
Estate planning is a strategic step to setting your finances and assets in order prior to incapacitation or death. Life has many unexpected turns along the way, and when we plan for them in advance, it saves time, money, and unnecessary headaches. The estate planning...
DIY, or do-it-yourself, has become a common phrase in modern language. And while a DIY attitude may work well to foster creativity for daily life, when it comes to estate planning, DIY can cause devastating complications—which is the last thing you want your family to...
When going through the estate planning process, you may encounter words and phrases you’re not familiar with. One of the most misunderstood terms is “power of attorney.” Here at Phelps LaClair, we want our clients to fully understand every aspect of their estate plans. In...
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) offer an excellent opportunity for people to save money in preparation for retirement. However, people who make more than a certain amount of money cannot contribute to a Roth IRA. But what if there was a way to contribute to a...