Tag Archives: Estate Planning

Holograms, Holographs and Freedom

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Roger Billings

A democracy must have laws. We love to complain about laws, but the first thing a tyrant does when he gets control is tear up the existing rules. A democracy also needs men and women who are willing to stand … Continue reading →






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Part 2 of How to Fund a Living Trust

Posted on April 28, 2011 by Roger Billings

Funding a trust with retirement accounts, life insurance policies, securities and mutual funds requires some explanation on how best to deal with these assets. IRAs, 401ks and related retirement accounts have built-in estate planning, because they allow you to designate … Continue reading →






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How to Fund a Living Trust, Part 1

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Roger Billings

Funding a living trust refers to transferring assets into the trust. If a trust is a box then funding the trust means putting assets into the box.  For assets that are titled, such as real estate, accounts, stocks and bonds, … Continue reading →






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Resolution: Keeping the Estate Plan Updated

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Roger Billings

“You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a little one. I don’t believe in little plans. I believe in plans big enough to meet a situation which we can’t possibly foresee now.” Harry S. Truman … Continue reading →






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Suggestions on Giving Responsibly in Tough Times

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Roger Billings

The holidays are traditionally a season of charitable giving, and, despite the economic tough times, that does not appear to have changed.  The Red Cross published a survey showing that 57% of Americans still plan to give between this Thanksgiving … Continue reading →






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Family Finances and Thanksgiving Dinner Don’t Mix, But There May Be Some Other Time This Weekend to Bring Up These Important Topics

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Roger Billings

Estate planning is a gift.  Ideally, executing a will or trust is unselfish.  The intent is to benefit the heirs, while the planner gains peace of mind, but usually no financial benefit from the process.  Many parents consider a well-drafted … Continue reading →






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