5 Surprising Facts about Retirement
Check out some often-overlooked retirement planning facts of life that everyone should be aware of.
Ethan Huizenga
February 7, 2020
How Do I Incorporate My Business into My Estate Planning?
Running and owning a business is just like raising a child: Both are investments in the future, and both require a lot of time, resources and effort to raise successfully. One can argue that you would treat your business like you’d treat a child; you’d want it to succeed even after you’ve passed on or retired.
Ethan Huizenga
February 6, 2020
How Should Baby Boomers Claim Their Social Security?
Social Security benefits have long been a critical part of Americans’ retirement income plans. After all, the monthly benefits provide a stream of income that is adjusted for inflation annually and can’t be outlived. With the decline of pensions and increasing life spans, Social Security is now playing a larger role in shoring up retirees’ nest eggs.
Ethan Huizenga
January 22, 2020
Watch Your Language: Income
The Medicaid definition of “income” comes from federal law and reads as follows: Income is “[a]nything a person receives either in cash or in kind that can be used to meet the person’s basic needs of food, clothing, or shelter.” [Read More]
Ethan Huizenga
September 21, 2016
Ask the Elder Law Lawyer: How Much Do I Need to Save for Retirement?
If you’re like 70% of people in the US who have a retirement plan, you still haven’t worked with a professional such as an elder law attorney in Northwest Iowa in order to determine how much money you really need to save. A recent study found that only about 30% of this group has actually sat down with a professional to come up with a realistic number. [Read More]
Ethan Huizenga
November 10, 2015
101 Death Hacks [Part Four]
When you build a house, you want to do so efficiently. Pine 2x4s are cheaper than 1½” oak floor boards, so that’s what you use to frame the house. When you’re making your estate plan, you don’t want the family farm to wind up being sold to pay a tax bill, the costs of probate, or the medical expenses of your beneficiaries. Fortunately, with a little forethought and some organization, you can avoid those kinds of problems and make a plan to pay or even avoid those costs without jeopardizing your wishes. [Read More]
Ethan Huizenga
October 22, 2015
High Five: The Zen Guide to Probate
Life is full of transitions, and the end of someone’s life can be the most significant transition of all. Amidst the emotional challenges that come with laying a loved one to rest, it can be intimidating to discover that you’ve been designated as the executor of your loved one’s estate. Then you find out you are a fiduciary and the heavy responsibility that imposes, and suddenly you’re feeling like a fish out of water. [Read More]
Ethan Huizenga
September 22, 2015
What Does a Probate Lawyer Do?
It is a great idea to hire a probate lawyer before you actually “need” his or her services so things can go as smoothly as possible when it comes to taking an estate through the probate process. Unfortunately, that’s not always how it works. Oftentimes, a person isn’t even aware of what a probate lawyer in Northwest Iowa does until he or she is in need of one. It’s very common to go looking for a probate lawyer in Northwest Iowa once a loved one has passed and help is needed immediately. [Read More]
Ethan Huizenga
July 21, 2015
The Proper Approach to Trust Administration
There is a certain amount of responsibility that goes along with wills or trust administration in Iowa. For this reason, it is vital to choose someone very trustworthy to take on this important role. While some individuals will likely see it as an honor to be chosen, it can also be quite a burden, so it is highly recommended that the potential trustee be contacted in advance and asked if he or she is willing and able to take on the role.[Read More]
Ethan Huizenga
June 16, 2015
Estate Planning for Single Parents
Single parents tend to work hard for their children. Every day it falls to the single parent to provide just about everything for his or her children, and with 13 million single parent households in the US, there are a whole lot of folks doing their best to provide everything their children need today. So it’s no wonder that those in Northwest Iowa want to protect the children they would leave behind should they be killed or become incapacitated. [Read More]
Ethan Huizenga
May 19, 2015
