Probate is a term most people have heard. It’s the court process required to settle an estate when a Will was used as the estate planning tool. What most people don’t know is that there are two types of probate—Common and Solemn. The executor chooses the one that is most appropriate. Common probate is used most often. It’s the easiest. [...]
Alhambra's Bob Williams discusses whether a trust should be your IRA beneficiary rather than an individual.
Customer service is mostly dead. It’s probably housed in the Smithsonian along with the T-Rex and TV rabbit ears. As technology has progressed and Millennials have come of age, we have been pushed, sometimes kicking and screaming, to conduct personal business online. The Social Security Administration is no exception. Call the SSA and you will hear, “Offices are open to [...]
Mom and Dad told us working was a good thing. It may not have seemed like it as kids when they were trying to turn us into fully functioning, responsible adults. But later in life, we discovered it was true. Working gives a sense of pride and accomplishment. It makes us independent. Many older Americans continue to work during retirement [...]
Why make it simple when difficult will do. That seems to be the motto of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, even in its title. The SECURE Act has been the law of the land since January 1, 2020, and the 125 pages of reforms were, allegedly, supposed to make saving for retirement easier and more [...]
The checklist when preparing for retirement is a long one. But you need to be aware of one item in particular if you intended to start taking Social Security before your Full Retirement Age (FRA) and continue working—the Social Security Earnings Test. It can suck Social Security dollars out of the pockets of unsuspecting retirees. To paraphrase a familiar old [...]
If your childhood was like most, when you made mistakes or something went wrong, you really wanted a do-over—another shot at making the right decision? You’re not a kid anymore, but it’s nice to know there’s still an opportunity for a do-over—a Medicare test drive. When you’re eligible to sign up for Medicare, if you choose a Medicare Advantage plan, [...]
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