Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Establishing A Trust Fund For Your Grandchildren Isn’t As Villainous As It Sounds
These days, people who are committed to posting content online every day because they think it is their only path to financial stability have a lot to say about nepo babies, and none of it is flattering. In the previous generation, when people snarked in person instead of online, we used to call them… Read More »
Choosing A Personal Representative For Your Estate Without The Drama
Some estate planning decisions are more fun than others. Thinking about your possible need for nursing home care and how much it will cost is not fun, but other aspects of estate planning feel more like a party, and with good reason. If you have enough optimism to think of a funeral as a… Read More »
The Dangers Of Early Retirement
If your aspiration is to retire before age 60, you should be careful what you wish for. The idea of never having to work again sounds glamorous, but the lack of structure is more than most people can bear. The aspirational content about early retirement does not tell the whole story. People who retire… Read More »
The Summer Family Reunion Estate Plan Talk
Multigenerational vacations are stressful, no matter your age and financial circumstances. As a child, you might not mind the idea of seeing your cousins who live out of state or of swimming in the hotel swimming pool, but deep down, you would rather stay home and play Roblox. It spoils the fun, though, that… Read More »
Address Your Scariest Debts Now, Before You Retire
During your working years, thoughts of debts and how much you owe on the next installment are a constant presence. Your days are a scramble not to miss the grace period on any of your debt obligations. You pay and pay, with barely any money left over from your paycheck after all those debt… Read More »
Estate Planning Is Your Best Protection Against A Late In Life Windfall
Florida has had a lottery for years; if you remember when it didn’t, you are officially old. The arguments about a statewide lottery legalizing vices now sound quaint. Cannabis is at least somewhat legal not only in Florida but also in many less free-spirited states. No one can argue that Floridians would be in… Read More »
Can Serving As The Trustee Of A Trust Impoverish You?
The web pages of the “trusts” practice areas of law firms that deal in estate law make it sound like trusts are a foolproof way to keep your money safe from everyone. What happens in the family stays in the family, and generational wealth can flow freely without interference from the court. If this… Read More »
Are Assisted Living Facilities Overrated?
In the opinions of their most outspoken proponents, assisted living facilities are the ideal place for frugal seniors to spend their retirement years. They are affordable, and you get as much or as little help as you want. It is the best of both worlds, where you get to live independently, but the staff… Read More »
Should You Provide For Your Animal Friends Through Your Will Or A Trust?
Despite what the most search engine optimized content, and more recently, the most chatbot optimized content, will tell you, trusts are not a cloak of invisibility to stop the IRS, your estranged spouse, or your ungrateful children from ruining your fun. When most people create trusts, it is because they want to give money… Read More »
Do You Get Paid To Be The Personal Representative Of An Estate?
Being the personal representative of a deceased person’s estate is work, and there are various reasons why someone might welcome the task or why someone might dread it. If the testator of the will named a family member as personal representative, the personal representative might see his or her role as personal representative as… Read More »
