Author Archives: Roger Billings

Planning for Art Collectors

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Roger Billings

I could happily get lost in a museum. Vermeer and Van Gogh, Durer and David are favorite painters. Greek sculpture and Gothic architecture fascinate me. I love art. I can understand the desire to own a masterpiece. But valuable art creates unique estate … Continue reading →






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Is the Industry to Blame for Americans’ Obsessive Worrying About Finances?

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Roger Billings

Should we be worrying? Chuck Jaffe of Market Watch reports on two recent surveys of Americans that show obsessive levels of worrying about finances. The 2015 “Life + Money Survey” from GoBankingRates.com, released this month, showed that Americans think more … Continue reading →






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Inside Look at Frank Gifford’s Probate Estate

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Roger Billings

On the celebrity estate front, the New York Daily News recently published details about Frank Gifford’s Last Will and Testament. Kathie Lee Gifford is to receive the bulk of the $10 million estate, but his children from a prior marriage … Continue reading →






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Options for Funding Long Term Care

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Roger Billings

Where there is a potential that nursing home care will use up life savings, an Elder Law professional should be consulted to determine the best course of action. The following quotes from Brad Reid of the Huffington Post Blog are a … Continue reading →






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What is a Pour-Over Will? – Estate Planning Basics

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Roger Billings

  It is time to get back to basics. A Living Trust takes the place of a Will. The Trust specifies how the estate is going to be disposed and who has the responsibility for carrying out its instructions. See … Continue reading →






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A Vacation Home for the Next Generation

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Roger Billings

Feeling nostalgic about summer vacations? Me, too. One of the most tangible forms of inheritance is a vacation home. Parents often express the wish that their children not sell the cabin in the woods. This is particularly so when it … Continue reading →






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The Bottom Line for Estate Plans

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Roger Billings

Lynn Balou, a financial planner in the San Francisco Bay area, published an update of important points to consider in estate planning. Her final exhortation summarizes well the purpose and effect of a good estate plan: Bottom line: Each of … Continue reading →






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