An annuity is a contract, not an investment. And I keep telling people this, but they keep calling me with these crazy sales pitches they're getting. If so, it should be in short-term CDs, or money market accounts, or short term Treasury Bills – IOUs from the Federal government. Do you have probate prevention planning "chicken money" – money that you want to protect from risk? As a deferred annuity, QLACs provide you with a guaranteed stream of income later in lif

Itinerary Advances – In addition to Pre-Travel Security Analysis, AEGIS’ Protective Intelligence Analysts produce custom itinerary specific virtual advances, offer options for consideration to mitigate risk, and provide contingency and emergency plans ready to be used if necessar


An adult child who inherits wealth outright even becomes a target for frivolous claims. Even if kept separate, a court may consider inherited assets as part of someone’s overall financial picture when dividing marital assets or determining spousal support. Inheritances given to an adult child outright can become marital property if the assets are commingled with marital fund

Build loyalty by helping identify the retirement income sweet spot
And probate prevention planning as retirees age, their satisfaction with lifetime income sources only increases. Even high-net-worth retirees report greater happiness and financial peace of mind when they receive approximately $3,000 in additional guaranteed monthly income. This threshold creates an income floor that allows retirees to spend more freely without the fear of depleting their savings. But how much additional guaranteed income provides the greatest boost in retiree confidence and well-being? Wade D. Pfau, Ph.D., CFA®, RICP®, Professor of Practice, The American College of Financial Services Michael Finke, Ph.D., CFP®, Professor of Wealth Management, The American College of Financial Servic

Comprehensive Financial Planning
Steven collaborates with attorneys, CPAs and financial advisers to design tax-efficient solutions that preserve and protect multigenerational wealth. Steven Bowles, CLU®, is the founder of Catalyst Advisory, an independent wealth transfer and estate planning advisory firm. Heirs can benefit equally from a pool of assets without dividing and splitting everything apart, which often results in lost value. This may involve a family LLC, a trust or shared governance of family assets. Dividing assets, especially illiquid ones like real estate and businesses, often forces a sale. Estate planning typically involves splitting everything evenly among the heirs, so they can do with their inheritance as they please.
Invest in insurance to protect family wealth
But families who successfully preserve their wealth typically spend more time and energy on tax strategy and protecting their wealth than selecting the right investments. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Permanent life insurance can be a good diversification play, offering protection along with cash value and an investment component. It provides excellent liquidity so your heirs can pay taxes without selling probate prevention planning assets (very important if you own a business or a real estate portfolio). In this environment, it is essential to be strategic, calculated and prepared to protect the family assets and take full advantage of the opportunities availabl


A complete estate plan may include the following legally binding documents, designed to help ensure that your assets are protected and your wishes are carried out. The final step in the estate planning process will be to create and execute the types of documents outlined below. Take some time to ensure that any essential information and documentation regarding your assets is organized and easily accessible to your executor and attorney. The formal documents stating your estate planning directives typically include your will, your trust (if you set one up), durable power of attorney, and an advance healthcare directive (also known as a living will). At first, the list may include those who will definitely be among your beneficiaries — spouse, partner, probate prevention planning children — and those you may want to include, such as siblings, nephews and nieces, close friends, or your favorite charitie


The trustee is the person or institution responsible for carrying out the trust’s terms. This step-by-step guide helps you create a trust that matches your estate planning goals and avoids disputes among heirs. Once you have your list of assets, you can begin the setup of the trust document. This should include probate prevention planning personal property, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and even charities you want to include. A will is a useful estate planning tool, but it doesn’t provide the same level of privacy or efficiency.
Notifying Beneficiari

You’re on the lookout for the best investment products, and we are too.
If you have a will, life insurance, beneficiary designations and an asset inventory, and followed other typical estate planning advice, you might feel like you're all set. Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose. If you are planning to give assets to future generations, an economic downturn might be the perfect time to accomplish the transfer. All assets above the lifetime exemption amount for gift/estate taxes will be subject to a 40% tax when transferred to the probate prevention planning next generatio