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To Roth or Not to Roth – That Is the Question!

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

One of the biggest questions that will pop into the minds of baby boomers this summer as they catch some rays at the beach is whether or not to convert their IRA to a Roth IRA. Simply put, a Roth IRA...

Tags: baby boomers, estate tax purposes, income tax rates, life expectancy, state tax laws

It’s Like a HEET Wave! Why Boomers Should Consider a Health and Education Exclusion Trust

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

Written by:  Renee A. Bouchard-Kaiser, Esq. and Gary Altman, Esq. As many Boomers (particularly those of us here on the East Coast) muscle through the effects of the latest summer heat wave, I thought...

Tags: boomers, educational expenses, health and education exclusion trust, medical expenses, transfer taxes

How Financially Responsible is Your Grad? – Take This Into Account When Designing Your Estate Plan!

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

Graduation time is upon us.  My son, Matthew is graduating from Northwestern University this June and, like many families that have children that are graduating or who have already graduated, I have been...

Tags: financial guidance, graduation time, health insurance policies, parents and grandparents, private school tuition

Special Needs Planning – What Every Boomer Needs to Know…and Share With Others

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

Statistics show that the need for special needs planning is rapidly increasing.  Cases of autism, substance abuse, dementia, and other psychological disorders, are on the rise.  Many boomers have at...

Tags: boomers, entitlement programs, family affair, psychological disorders, special needs children

“Beneficiary Audits” – It’s One Audit You Should Be Asking For!

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

With Tax Day behind us, the IRS is now hard at work auditing as many returns as possible in an effort to make sure that citizens are playing by the rules.  For this reason, the word “audit” doesn’t...

Tags: audits, beneficiary designations, boomers, retirement accounts

Can Your Will Be Kept Too Safe? Surprisingly, the Answer is Yes!

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

Written by:  Gary Altman, Esq. and Renee A. Bouchard-Kaiser, Esq. “Oh that’s where that is!” – a common catch phrase during spring cleaning.  We’ve all done it – put something in a...

Tags: intestacy laws, personal papers, safe deposit box, wills

Estate Tax Laws Are Changing – Are You Prepared?

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

Tax season is, once again, just around the corner.  And while for many Boomers, preparing your income tax returns may seem like the more pressing concern, anyone who’s read any of my articles or blog...

Tags: boomer, federal estate tax, gift tax exemption, income tax returns, new legislation

“The Romantic Side of Estate Planning” – Leaving a Legacy of Love

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a hopelessly romantic boomer.  That said, I’m also an estate planner.  With Valentines Day approaching, I thought I’d try a different slant on estate planning. ...

Tags: advanced planning, boomer, investment records, keys to your heart, social networking sites

“Estate Tax 2010” – Congress Didn’t Act, Where Does This Leave Us?

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

The final year of The 2001 Tax Act (EGTRRA 2001) is now upon us, and estate tax repeal, at least temporarily and unless reinstated retroactively, is upon us.  Quite frankly, I never expected this to happen. ...

Tags: death tax, estate tax law, federal estate tax exemption, generation skipping transfer tax, new legislation

Seasons Greetings

Posted in: Boomer's Speak & Coffee House Blog |

Seasons Greetings from Boomer-Living.com Meet Our Expert GARY ALTMAN We wish you and your family a very happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with peace and prosperity. Click HERE to learn...

Tags: financial director, gary altman, new year, peace, prosperity

“Estate Planning: The Gift that Keeps on Giving” – Take Time this Holiday to Discuss Estate Planning with Your Family

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

Great food, family get-togethers, holiday cheer…estate planning?!?  While it may seem like a less than ideal topic for a fireside chat, estate planning is critically important and the holidays can present...

Tags: charitable gifts, fireside chat, grandkids, holiday season, timeless gift

Estate Planning During Tough Economic Times: Why Estate Planning is One Corner You Cannot Afford to Cut

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

The (Ultimate) Elephant in the Room When it comes to the “D” word - “Death” – many people are happy to live in blissful denial:  “I’m too young to think about it.” “My...

Tags: assets, bad news, beneficiaries, state laws, word death

Advanced Health Care Directives

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

End-of-Life Planning Can Put You and Your Family at Ease In recent months, the world has had to say ‘goodbye’ to many well-known figures. Some, we lost rather unexpectedly - Heath Ledger and Michael...

Tags: advance medical directive, advanced health care directive, end of life planning, farrah fawcet, health care directives

Divorce, Remarriage and Blended Families

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

Divorce, Remarriage and Blended Families - An Estate Planning Wake-up Call How would you like your ex to inherit your property, your bank accounts and your retirement benefits despite the fact you willed...

Tags: divorce, estate, marriage, tax

Gary Altman, Esq., CFP

Posted in: Boomer-Living's Authors & Financial Authors & Financial Planning |

Gary Altman, Esq., CFP, Program Director for Boomer-Living.Com, is the founder and principal of the estate planning law firm, Altman & Associates, where he has been assisting clients throughout Maryland,...

Estate Planning: “Don’t Leave Home Without It!”

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

Have Your Estate Plan Reviewed Before You Leave this Summer! Despite economic concerns, many people will still hit the road in search of a little R&R and/or adventure this summer. In preparation...

Tags: economy, estate, planning, vacation

The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Wills and Trusts

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Wills and Trusts: Why Online and Pre-Packaged Estate Planning Docs Are a Big No-No There will be many projects this spring where you (or even a not-so-crafty attorney like...

Tags: estate planning, trust, will

A Word of Caution When it Comes to Gifting 529 Plans

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

It's spring and the promising sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance" will soon fill graduation halls across the country - a reminder for some with younger children in their families that college days are just...

Tags: college fund, estate planning

Death and Taxes: The Estate Tax is Certainly Here to Stay!

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

With tax season upon us, I thought it would be timely to update you on the status of the federal estate tax. Well, friends, as it turns out, any possibility of a repeal of the estate tax is unofficially...

Tags: estate, estate planning, tax

Before You Remarry – Things for Boomers to Consider with Respect to Estate Planning

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

With Valentines' Day upon us, love is in the air. As a boomer and a romantic, I believe that marriage (even the second time around) is a wonderful thing. That said, the attorney and the realist in me knows...

Tags: estate planning, marriage, Medicaid

“Estate Planning: The Gift that Keeps on Giving”

Posted in: Financial Center & Financial Planning |

Take Time this Holiday to Discuss Estate Planning with Your Family Great food, family get-togethers, holiday cheer…estate planning?!?  While it may seem like a less than ideal topic for a fireside...