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About Social Security Benefits

March 27, 2023
As retirement nears, you may be wondering when to start taking Social Security payments. These benefits are primarily based on your earnings during your working years and your age when you start receiving benefits.
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Steps to End-of-Life Planning

March 26, 2023
It isn’t just about wills and funerals—it is a reflection of your values, your goals for healthy aging, and the hopes and dreams you have for those you love.
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How to Build a Family Dynasty

March 25, 2023
A decade before his death, the billionaire owner of the Denver Broncos consulted with attorneys about the orderly handover of the team after his death. He crafted a carefully delineated trust that his hand-picked trustees would oversee.
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Why an Estate Plan Is Critical

March 24, 2023
The new Federal Estate tax limit (above which Federal estate taxes will be payable) is $11,200,000.00 per person. Yes, most of us will not hit that limit, but 19 of the 50 states, Illinois included, impose an estate tax of their own ranging from .25% to almost 20% of your estate.
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What Is a QTIP?

March 23, 2023
A qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) trust allows an individual, called the grantor, to leave assets for a surviving spouse and determine how the trust's assets are split up after the surviving spouse dies.
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Alternatives to Guardianship

March 22, 2023
We all want to protect vulnerable people from harm. However, taking away all their rights usually isn’t the place to start. Instead, there are several less severe options that could be the right way to go.
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Reducing Your Probate Estate

March 21, 2023
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. Anyone with a bank account, house, car or other personal property should have a will.
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Protecting Family & Inheritance

March 17, 2023
If your beneficiary designations are out of date and you die without updating those designations, your assets could go the wrong people–a former spouse, for example–no matter what your will says.
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Is My Life Insurance Taxed?

March 16, 2023
When beneficiaries receive a payout from a life insurance policy, they typically don’t have to pay taxes. However, there are a few situations where a portion of the life insurance benefit is taxable to the beneficiary.
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Eyesight Wrecking Habits

March 13, 2023
You only get two eyes, so you want to take care of them. Unfortunately, there are things you do every day that can damage your vision.
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