When people find out Debby Mycroft helps people write ethical wills, she always gets a predictable response: The Lament. “They say, ‘Oh, I wish I had a letter from my dad or grandmother or great aunt,’ whoever that person was. I have not come across a … Continue reading
Next Avenue recently asked readers to send us their top questions about their 2018 tax returns and we would answer as many as we could. In the story published in late March, three tax experts sorted out confusion about: who needs to file; standard dedu… Continue reading
As a professional trustee and executor, I have seen hundreds of estate-planning documents, including some from do-it-yourself online services. I appreciate that using a DIY site to draft a will can save money and time. But I’m also concerned that somet… Continue reading
Maybe you’re intrigued by the thought of having your body scientifically frozen when you die, on the chance you’ll be revived one day (cryonics). But the thought of having no ready access to funds when you’re thawed would have your head spinning like a… Continue reading
As a Certified Financial Divorce Analyst, I’ve spent my career counseling couples and individuals going through the divorce process. And since the 2015 Supreme Court ruling repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and permitting same-sex marriages … Continue reading
When you marry in your 20s or 30s, you might not be thinking about getting a prenup since your assets aren’t large and your life is pretty simple. But if you’ll be entering a second marriage in your 50s or 60s, a prenup is something you may very well w… Continue reading
Leaving a legacy — sounds like something only wealthy people can do, right? Like making a giant bequest to a university or passing on a significant estate to your children. Actually, though, a new Bank of America Merrill Lynch/Age Wave survey and the n… Continue reading
Digital security has never been so important or perhaps so easy. You can unlock your phone with your fingerprint or your face. You can use a password manager to store all your login credentials behind a single master password. And you can secure many o… Continue reading
There are two problems with many personal finance books. One, they’re dull. Two, they often tell you what you already know or suspect. So it’s refreshing when new ones come along that are actually interesting reading and helpful. Here are my six favori… Continue reading
When people do estate planning, they often don’t think about supporting the causes that have been important to them. Yet, it turns out that most people do want to use their estates to help change the world. When asked about giving during the estate pla… Continue reading