It is never wrong to want to grow and learn more about the way our actions and decisions can impact our future. But does taking a few courses online really make you an expert?
Some Depressing News About the IRS
The troubles at the IRS for taxpayers are worse than I thought. It is more important than ever that you take action and file your taxes electronically. I recently spoke with an accountant that I work with frequently. He attended a tax preparation seminar in which he was told some shocking information.
The IRS and You in 2022
The 2021 tax season created chaos for the IRS as they were both overloaded and understaffed. This resulted in substandard telephone service and delayed refunds. This year things will be even worse. Deadlines to Note April 18, 2022, is the deadline for tax returns. This date will only change if the President and the Secretary of the Treasury decide a…
The Complete Estate Planning Documents Guide for Beginners
Are you concerned about what it takes to plan your estate for your family after you have passed? Here we’ve provided you a step-by-step guide to understanding what it takes to have everything in order. What documents do you need? The key documents that every person needs for an estate plan: Power of Attorney form Advance Medical Directive Last Will…
Did Mom or Dad Have Life Insurance?
How do you find out if someone had life insurance after they have died? And if they did have it, who are the beneficiaries? It’s tough to figure out on your own since most life insurance companies won’t take any action to notify beneficiaries until someone reports the insured’s death. So where do you start? The first thing you need…
7 Key Retirement Dates
My brother recently attended a retirement seminar at work and shared his notes with me. He learned about 7 key retirement dates and I thought they were so useful, that I want to share them with you. Here are the seven major milestone dates to keep in mind. Age 59 1/2 At age 59 1/2 people who’ve invested in IRAs…
Why don’t people have wills?
I have often wondered why I work with so many clients whose loved ones didn’t have any planning documents in place before a health crisis or even worse their death. Based on conversations with friends, family, and some previous clients, here are some of the reasons that prevent people from completing their wills: 1. I don’t own enough. If you…
Introducing Tracy!
I’m so very pleased to introduce you to my new colleague, Tracy Liden. She’s joined Kahan Law to work as a paralegal. She will mostly prepare the behind-the-scenes court documents required of probate cases. Tracy will also occasionally work directly with clients to assist with transferring assets from the deceased to the estate, and then from the estate to the…
Why do I even need a will?
Recently a client spoke with me about whether he even needed a will. He had set everything up so that upon his death his money went to his kids without probate. All of his assets: bank accounts, investment accounts, community deposits, life insurance, and IRA’s either had a joint owner or a beneficiary. As he correctly pointed out all of…
Your great Uncle died and left you all of his IRA accounts
If you are the beneficiary of a Traditional IRA account there are a few rules you need to be aware of. If the person who owned the account at the time of their death was someone you did not marry and they were at least 10 years older or younger than you, here are a few rules to keep track…