If a beneficiary dies before you do, who receives that person’s inheritance? The answer depends on whether your will or trust uses “per stirpes” or...
Personal Finances
All Personal Finances Articles
How Much Does an Estate Have to Be Worth to Go to Probate? Understanding Thresholds, Rules, and Exceptions
“Everybody hates probate,” says Ellen Cookman, JD, founder of the estate-planning firm Cookman Law—even most lawyers who collect fees from it. It’s easy to understand...
What Is Dynamic Pricing? How Real-Time Price Adjustments Work…and Why They Matter
Even though you have never heard of dynamic pricing, it probably affects you and your finances almost every day. So it is wise to learn...
How Much to Tip: A Simple Guide to Tipping Etiquette and Percentages
From tipping fatigue to tipping confusion: Many Americans feel that tipping expectations have increased in recent years, making it harder to know what’s customary—and what’s...
How to Choose a Financial Advisor: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding the Right Expert for Your Needs
The most important decision you can make in your financial life isn’t what house to buy or 401(k) investment to use. It’s choosing the right...
How to Make a Will: A Clear, Step-by-Step Guide to Protecting Your Wishes and Loved Ones
It’s no fun to think about making your will. Nevertheless, says estate-planning attorney Martin Shenkman, “A will is a critical document that probably everyone 18...
Comprehensive Guide to Assets: Examples, Types, and How They Impact Your Finances
How best to assess one’s assets? A quick glance at a brokerage statement might seem to provide a sufficient summary of someone’s assets, but reality...
How to Void a Check: Step-by-Step Guide, Uses and Safety Tips
In this age of electronic banking, voiding a paper check can seem like an anachronism…so much so that many people no longer even know how...
How Your Emergency Fund Acts as a Personal Form of Insurance
You’ve probably been advised to save up a stash of money to manage life’s emergencies. Of course, we also take out insurance in case of...
Don’t Fall For the Latest AI Scams
You get a call late one afternoon that no parent wants: “Dad, I crashed the Toyota, and someone got really hurt. I need $10,000 for...
What Is the Next of Kin Order?
In the field of estate planning, clients often have questions about “next of kin”—what is next of kin?…what is next of kin order?…who has more...
Estate Planning for Blended Families
The legendary singer Tony Bennett left a multimillion-dollar estate to his complicated family…and that led to inheritance turmoil after his death. Bennett had four children...
