In last week’s column about grief, I suggested that all of our personal losses, such as the death of a loved one, have financial aspects. These may range from a severe reduction in family income because of a divorce or the death of a wage earner, to the complexities...
Based on my experience, American societal money scripts around estate planning appear to be “Good parents leave everything to family,” and “The more money I can leave my kids the better off they will be.” It’s not surprising, then, that estate...
For decades, financial experts like myself have implored you to have a health care power of attorney. Now, some health care experts say you don’t need one because they don’t work. “Decades of research demonstrate advance care planning doesn’t work. We need a new...
We’ve made it to the middle of January, that time of year that is the graveyard for so many New Year’s resolutions. Even if you abandon any other resolutions you may have made, though, please consider carrying out a very important one. Resolve to make a...
One of the biggest conundrums of estate planning is considering how, or even if, you can give money or property to your heirs in a manner that will help them. How can leaving money to someone not be helpful? Research shows that receiving a lot of money can certainly...
South Dakota has certainly been in the news recently. Coverage of the leaked “Pandora Papers” included headlines like “How South Dakota became a global tax haven,” “South Dakota Is a Moral Sewer and Should Be Abolished,” and...
