Dear Liz: Please consider mentioning employers who haven’t forgotten long-time employees in their estate planning. Caregivers and domestic workers may work for families, the elderly or seriously ill patients for decades. When there is a death, the estate or family members rarely remember these workers who feel their effort must have meant very little not […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Why each spouse should have a credit card in their own name
Dear Liz: My husband was the primary account holder on our credit cards and I was the authorized user. When he recently passed away, I was told I had to close the cards. I have tried to open my own credit cards and have been declined by two banks because my debt is too high. […]
Q&A: Couple worries about soaring ACA health care premiums
Dear Liz: My wife and I have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchange. With the enhanced tax credit ending this year, our insurance bill could go up from $500 a month to about $2,000 a month. Are there any good options or plans you can recommend? Would filing taxes separately help if my […]
Q&A: Follow the rules for IRA donations
Dear Liz: Hello. I’d like to use my IRA for charitable donations when I’m required to make minimum distributions. The problem I’ve encountered is that I want to use a debit card for donations. I prefer to donate to small art organizations, which are set up for online donations and definitely not paper checks. I […]
Q&A: Friends don’t ask friends for condos
Dear Liz: I have a younger friend who has asked me to leave them a condo I own. I would prefer the condo remain in my daughter’s name, and designate that the income from the condo go to my friend after my death. Is there a way to do this? Answer: Your friend just handed […]
Q&A: “Simple” ways to avoid probate often create complications
Dear Liz: I was perplexed by your column in which you pooh-poohed pay-on-death and transfer-on-death accounts in favor of trusts. But you gave no specific explanation. Rather, you said trusts “generally allow a smoother, more organized settlement of the estate than other probate-avoidance options.” Would you please explain what is smoother and more organized than POD […]