You might think that only the super wealthy need to worry about asset protection planning. But the truth is that if you don't have millions, you may be at even greater risk. For instance, if you are a multi-millionaire, a $50,000 judgment against you might not be that big of a deal. But for a fam...
If you dream of one day leaving your company to your family, but you haven't properly included your business in your estate plan, that dream could become a nightmare for your heirs—and for your partners, team members, and clients, too. In fact, properly planning for what would happen to your busi...
Despite the fact that it happens to every single one of us and is as every bit as natural as birth, very few among us are properly prepared for death—whether our own death or the death of a loved one. Yet the pandemic might be changing this. According to Census figures, the pandemic caused ...
One day, you will leave your business. You will exit either voluntarily (through sale or retirement) or involuntarily (through death, disability, bankruptcy, liquidation, or fire sale). As a business owner, you must have a good understanding of each of the three key elements to every successful ...
Despite the fact that it happens to every single one of us and is every bit as natural as birth, very few among us are properly prepared for death—whether our own death or the death of a loved one. Yet the pandemic might be changing this. According to Census figures, the pandemic caused the...
We are pleased to announce the launch of Business Armor, our new proactive business compliance service created specifically for small business owners. Business Armor is designed to help you focus your time and energy on running your business, rather than chasing after the tedious but critical ba...
With divorce occurring in roughly 50% of all marriages in the U.S. and life expectancy increasing every day, second—and even third—marriages are becoming quite common. And when people get remarried in mid-life and beyond, they often bring children from prior marriages into the mix. Such unions ar...
There are numerous advantages to running your own business: being your own boss, setting your own hours, and getting to decide who you work with and what you work on. However, business ownership can also be one of the most stressful endeavors you'll ever undertake in your life. While running your...
If you're looking to collect life insurance proceeds as the policy's beneficiary, the process is fairly simple. However, during the emotional period immediately following a loved one's death, it can feel as if your entire world is falling apart, so it's helpful to understand exactly what steps yo...
Regardless of the industry you are in, the reality of being a business owner is that you open yourself up to a number of unique risks that most people don't have to worry about—and the more successful your business is, the more risks you face. Unfortunately, most business owners aren't fully a...
Outside of personal liability protection, one of the primary advantages of setting your business up as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is flexibility in how your company is taxed. And many business owners elect to have their LLC taxed as an S Corporation (S-Corp) to save money on payroll taxes....
These days, more and more young people are delaying—if not totally foregoing—a life that involves marriage and parenting. The lack of jobs, crushing student debt, multiple recessions, and the pandemic have pushed many young people into a life path that leaves little room for settling down with a ...
If you are thinking of starting a business, you'll find all sorts of advice about how to go about getting your new venture off the ground. Indeed, there are entire websites devoted to the topic. Yet, with so much information out there, it's hard to know what you should heed and what you can ignor...
If a family member or friend has asked you to serve as trustee for their trust either during their life, or upon their death, it's a big honor—this means they consider you among the most honest, reliable, and responsible people they know.That said, serving as a trustee is not only a great honor, ...
Establishing and enforcing healthy professional boundaries with your clients is critical for all business owners, especially if you own your own business and work from home, where the lines between work and home life are easily blurred. Unless you set and enforce healthy boundaries, rather tha...
When creating an estate plan, people are often most concerned with passing on the “big things” like real estate, bank accounts, and vehicles. Yet these possessions very often aren't the items that have the most meaning for the loved ones we leave behind. Smaller items, like family heirlooms and k...
Few business owners are legal experts. Yet many act like they are attorneys when it comes to their legal agreements by thinking they can simply wing it and create their own contracts or rely on cheap, fill-in-the-blank legal forms they purchase online.However, this is playing with fire. In fact, ...
As we head into summer, many parents will see their children graduate high school and prepare to leave home to attend college or pursue other life goals. This can be an exciting and emotional time, and with so much going on, estate planning probably isn't at the front of your (or their) mind righ...
As a business owner, it's inevitable that you will face minor conflicts and disputes at some point. Whether it's a client who refuses to pay a bill, an independent contractor who fails to fulfill the terms of their agreement, or a vendor who stiffs you on an order, dealing with such issues is a s...
The road to retirement is a long one, and as with any journey, it helps to have a few key milestones along the way to help gauge your progress. While your individual retirement plan and goals will be unique to your income, family situation, and desired lifestyle, most Americans share a number of ...
When running a small business, every dollar counts, so it's critical to keep a tight rein on your expenses, especially when you are just starting out and have limited revenue. If not monitored carefully, spending can quickly get out of control and put a serious strain on your operation's financia...
Because estate planning involves actively thinking about and planning for frightening topics like death, old age, and crippling disability, many people put it off or simply ignore it all together until it's too late. Sadly, this unwillingness to face reality often creates serious hardship, expens...
If you have yet to put in place an estate and succession plan for your business, you're going to leave the people you love most—your clients, your customers, your team, and your family—in a bad situation when something happens to you. And while that probably won't be tomorrow, it could be. We get...
Because estate planning involves actively thinking about and planning for frightening topics like death, old age, and crippling disability, many people put it off or simply ignore it all together until it's too late. Sadly, this unwillingness to face reality often creates serious hardship, expens...
When it comes to your company's brand identity, nothing is more vital to your company than its name. By developing a highly catchy name for your business, you can quickly get your company recognized, remembered, and respected.That said, coming up with the right name for your company involves a nu...