Gloria Vanderbilt, socialite, heiress and successful fashion designer, died last week at age 95. Years ago, she reportedly decided not to pass on her substantial fortune to her children, including CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. In a 2014 interview with Howard Stern, Cooper explained why he was OK with her decision. “My mom’s made clear to me […]
Tag Archives | estate planning
Smart Beneficiary Choices Can Save Your Heirs Thousands
I just wanted to share a quick story showing how picking the right beneficiaries for your retirement and other accounts can save your family and heirs thousands of dollars. We recently met with one of our clients, Brenda*, who has two grown children she wants to inherit her assets. Brenda also wants a portion of […]
What We Can All Learn From Luke Perry’s Untimely Death
Even if you never watched the 90’s hit show “Beverly Hills 90210,” it’s hard not to be shocked and saddened by the untimely passing of actor Luke Perry, age 52, who died after suffering a massive stroke earlier this week. The unexpected death of a favorite celebrity helps drive home what it means to be truly […]
How To Do It: Burt Reynolds’ Smart Estate Planning Keeps Details Quiet
Bravo to fellow Floridian and legendary actor Burt Reynolds, who put in place a smart estate planning strategy before his recent death at age 82. Here’s 3 takeaways from his estate: He had a Will and Trust. So many celebrities who have passed away recently had no estate planning documents in place. That can lead to expensive […]
So You’ve Been Asked To Serve As Executor?
A good friend or family member has asked you to serve as executor of their estate. Should you be flattered, or fearful? One thing that’s not in question: serving as executor (or Personal Representative, as it’s called in Florida) is an important and demanding job. Your friend or family member wants someone she can trust, someone […]
5-Minute Fix: Springtime Means Updating Beneficiaries On Your Accounts
OK, we made that up. But now would be a good time to do some “spring cleaning” and dust off those beneficiary designations. In fact, we’ve been doing just that. In several recent meetings, we’ve been spending time with clients to discuss and update the beneficiary designations on their accounts. You can take a few minutes […]
Are You Prepared? What One Financial Journalist Learned When She Was Unexpectedly Widowed
Rave reviews for our guest speaker, financial journalist Robyn Friedman, who led an informative session in our offices last Thursday sharing her personal experiences and financial challenges after unexpectedly losing her husband. Robyn addressed a gathering of clients, friends and guests as part of our ongoing client educational series. She recently published an article in […]
Keeping Aging Investors Safe From Financial Exploitation
We spend a lot of time making sure our clients and their finances stay safe, even as they age. Are you familiar with the facts about financial exploitation and aging? Financial abuse costs seniors billions of dollars each year. Here’s some new numbers from Greg Brumbeloe, in a recent article for Financial Advisor magazine. Brumbeloe […]
Procrastinating On Your Estate Planning? This Will Scare You Straight
Have you been putting off doing your estate planning? Here’s a story that will scare you straight. Susan B. Garland of the New York Times writes about a family who learns first hand what can happen when a loved one fails to plan for incapacity. North Carolina-resident Terri Black stepped in when her widowed father […]
Quote Of The Week: More Seniors Fall Victim To Financial Abuse
“A new survey of caregivers by Allianz Life finds that 37% of seniors have suffered financial abuse. Such abuse can take the form of telemarketing scams, pressure to sign a will, or an empty promise to provide care in exchange for property. Victims of elder financial abuse lose an average of about $36,000, often to […]
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About Mari Adam, CFP®
Mari Adam, Certified Financial Planner™ and President of Adam Financial Associates Inc, has been helping individuals and families chart their financial futures for twenty five years. Mari has appeared in publications such as Business Week, CBS MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger’s, Newsweek, and Money Magazine.
