Estate Planning

Let's talk about something that makes most people's eyes glaze over faster than a tax code discussion: Texas inheritance laws. Specifically, what happens in the great state of Texas when someone passes away without a will. A situation lawyers call "dying intestate." You can learn more about what it...

Ever sat with a cup of coffee, looked out at your little piece of Texas. Your home, maybe some family land - and had that nagging thought. "What happens to all this if I’m not around tomorrow, especially if I haven't gotten around to making a will?" It’s not...

Did you know that inheriting property could potentially cost you thousands in taxes? While receiving valuable assets is exciting, the looming specter of capital gains tax can turn your windfall into a financial headache. But fear not – with the right strategies, you too can learn how to avoid...

"So, Michael, what happens to everything if something happens to me?" It’s a conversation I’ve had countless times during my nearly three decades as a financial planner. The answer always starts with the importance of estate planning. So do I need an estate plan? IMO virtually everyone, regardless of wealth...

For years, I sat with successful couples; doctors, business owners, executives. Who all shared a common, urgent fear: the 2026 estate tax "sunset." They were rushing to create complex A/B Trusts, worried that the high federal estate tax exemption was about to be cut in half. But the game has...

Here's what most estate planning attorneys won't tell you: roughly 60% of people who pay $2,500-$5,000 for a living trust would save more money with a simple will and beneficiary designations. In March 2024, I met with a client. Sarah, age 54, divorced, $720,000 estate (primary residence plus 401k)....

In my near 30 years as a financial planner, I've learned that estate planning means taking control of your life's work. The final, most important act of love for your family. Yet according to the 2025 Caring.com survey, only 24% of American adults have a will. Over three-quarters of...

For nearly 30 years as a financial planner, I’ve seen one word paralyze more families than any other: probate. A recent AARP study found that the average probate process takes 18 months and can consume up to 10% of an estate's value in fees. It’s the costly, public, and painfully slow court...

Probate isn’t just a “legal step.” Most people experience probate as months of waiting, thousands of dollars in legal bills, and frozen bank accounts at the worst possible time: when loved ones are grieving and trying to settle affairs. The unspoken truth: Probate isn’t something that just happens. It...

As a retired financial planner who spent nearly three decades helping families navigate inheritance laws, probate nightmares, and wealth‑transfer planning, I’ve seen one truth play out over and over: Estate planning isn’t about death. it’s about control, clarity, and protecting the people you love from unnecessary cost, conflict, and court...