Archive for April 2025
Steps to Protect Against the Financial Abuse of Senior Adults
As people get older, they often need to rely on others for various kinds of help and are more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Consequently, as people age, they are more vulnerable to being financially taken advantage of, sometimes even by people they trust. A recent study by AARP…
Read MoreUnderstanding Public Benefits & Planning Tools for Your Family’s Future How key programs and legal strategies can protect your loved ones and secure long-term care needs.
Planning for long-term care and protecting loved ones with disabilities or chronic conditions can feel overwhelming. That’s why it’s helpful to understand the public benefit programs available—and the legal tools that work hand-in-hand with them. Below is a helpful overview of the most common programs and planning options families use. Our team is here to…
Read MoreWhat Am I Still Holding Onto?
There’s this quiet little question that’s been tapping on my shoulder lately:Am I holding onto something that’s quietly hurting me more than helping me? It’s so easy to carry things because they’ve always been there. A way of working. A role in your family. A routine that once kept everything in order, but now feels…
Read MoreEnd-of-Life Planning Without the Taboo: How to Make It an Empowering Conversation
Memorial Day is often a time of reflection—on those we’ve lost, the values they stood for, and the memories they left behind. It can also be a gentle invitation to consider the legacy we’ll leave one day, not in a somber way, but in a deeply human and meaningful one. End-of-life planning doesn’t need to…
Read MoreSupporting Senior Autonomy: Legal Tools That Make a Difference
As individuals age, maintaining autonomy becomes one of the most meaningful ways to preserve dignity and quality of life. This is especially true for those facing degenerative illnesses like Parkinson’s, where a slow progression can gradually affect both mobility and cognitive function. While there’s no way to predict exactly how a person’s health will evolve,…
Read MoreEstate Planning for the Aging Parent: What to Know Before Capacity Becomes a Concern
As our parents age, we often focus on the visible changes—mobility challenges, doctor appointments, medication schedules. But one of the most important areas that often goes overlooked is legal capacity. If your parent begins to show signs of cognitive decline, it can affect more than just daily routines—it can halt critical legal and financial decisions…
Read MoreDon’t Wait for a Crisis: What a Young Adult Emergency Plan Can Do for Your Family
When your child turns 18, a lot changes—but not just for them. For you, as a parent, it can be a surprising shift: legally, you’re no longer automatically entitled to make medical decisions, access their health records, or even get a call from the hospital in case of an emergency. If your child is heading…
Read MoreSenior Season of Life: 5 Planning Priorities for Aging with Dignity
As we step into the senior season of life, we’re given a powerful opportunity to shape our future with intention, grace, and peace of mind. While aging comes with its share of changes, thoughtful planning allows us to maintain control over our choices, protect our independence, and ease the burden on those we love. Whether…
Read MoreMom’s Legacy: 3 Estate Planning Conversations to Honor Her This Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a time to pause, reflect, and appreciate the women who have shaped our lives with their love, guidance, and quiet strength. Whether your mom is still with you or you’re honoring her memory, this season offers a beautiful opportunity to consider the legacy she’s passed on—and how you can preserve and extend…
Read MoreDado Diaries: Embracing the Seasons of Life
As the season changes, I find myself reflecting on the rhythm of life—the moments of calm, the flurry of activity, and the times when everything feels like it’s in perfect balance. There’s something about this time of year, especially with spring on the horizon, that makes me want to slow down and take it all…
Read MoreNew Conversations for a New Season: 3 Under-the-Radar Estate Topics to Raise with Clients
As we step into a new season, it’s the perfect time for professionals to refresh the conversations they’re having with clients about long-term planning. While the basics of estate planning remain timeless, the nuances shift — and sometimes those subtle shifts can have major consequences. Here are three under-the-radar estate planning topics worth raising with…
Read MoreHelping Clients Leave a Values-Based Legacy: From Philanthropy to Environmental Stewardship
When clients start thinking about the legacy they want to leave behind, it often goes far beyond finances and property. Many are looking to pass on something even more meaningful—their values. As professionals in estate planning, financial advising, elder care, or legacy coaching, we have a unique opportunity to help clients shape legacies that reflect…
Read MoreEstate Planning Isn’t Just for the Wealthy—It’s for the Wise
Why Planning Now Saves Your Loved Ones Stress—and How Even Simple Plans Create Meaningful Impact When people hear “estate planning,” they often imagine sprawling mansions, stock portfolios, or family fortunes passed down through generations. But the truth is, estate planning isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy—it’s for anyone who cares about their family, their values, and…
Read MorePlanning for a Greener Goodbye: How to Add Eco-Friendly Wishes to Your Estate Plan
If you live your life with a focus on sustainability, why not let that intention guide the way you leave it, too? Today, more people are looking for ways to align their end-of-life choices with their environmental values. From natural burials to biodegradable urns, the options for an eco-conscious farewell are growing—and your estate plan…
Read MoreYour Life, In a Letter: How to Write a Legacy Letter for the People You Love
When we think of legacy, we often think of the tangible: a home, a family business, a carefully prepared estate plan. But sometimes, the most meaningful gift we can leave behind is something far more personal—our words. A legacy letter—sometimes called an ethical will—is a heartfelt message written to your loved ones, sharing your values,…
Read MoreNavigating California Probate: When a Daughter Is Appointed Administrator and a Spouse Survives
In California probate, the appointment of a daughter as the Administrator of a deceased person’s estate gives her legal authority to gather and manage probate assets—even when a surviving spouse is present. However, the distribution and control of assets can become complicated depending on how property was titled and whether the decedent left a will.…
Read MoreIs It Time for an Annual Planning Retreat?
Do you ever feel like you never have a moment to yourself? Or that even if you manage to carve out some personal time, you are not spending it as effectively as you could be? Our always-on culture may counterproductively (and counterintuitively) be holding us back from achievement. We can work hard and stay busy…
Read MoreSpring Cleaning of Your Mind
Welcome to Spring, a season of new life and new beginnings. There’s a freshness and a stirring sense of promise in the air as we wake from our winter hibernation and look forward to what summer and the rest of the year will bring. Growing up this meant little league baseball, spring soccer, rainy days…
Read More4 Tips to Avoid a Will or Trust Contest
Fighting over provisions in your will or trust can derail your final wishes, rapidly deplete your financial legacy, and tear your loved ones apart. However, with proper planning, you can help your family avoid a potentially disastrous fight. If you are concerned about challenges to your estate plan, consider the following: 1. Do not attempt…
Read MoreHave a Harmonious Family that Does Not Fight? You Still Need an Estate Plan
In many families, everyone gets along, happily gathering for the holidays, sharing laughs, telling stories, and enjoying each other’s company. Then, the matriarch or patriarch dies. Suddenly, years of pent-up resentment and hurt feelings surface, and the once-happy family is now embroiled in litigation over the head of the family’s money and property. Having an…
Read More