Resources
for life's most challenging transitions

When my step-daughter started packing for college, we were deep in the weeds of shower caddies and extra-long twin sheets when someone made a joke about her being "officially an adult now." The laughter faded pretty quickly when we started working out what that actually meant, legally.

She had just...

Dwight D. Eisenhower had a system.

As Supreme Allied Commander and later as President, the volume of decisions crossing Ike's desk was staggering — so he organized them. The result is what we now call the Eisenhower Matrix, and it may be the most useful lens for understanding why, for most of us, e...

You trust your spouse. Of course you do. And if you're in a blended family, you've probably thought about what happens when one of you is gone. Maybe you've even talked about it. "Of course I'll take care of your kids." "We'll make sure everyone is looked after."

But here's what I've learned — both...

Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs often represent the single largest category of wealth for American families. According to recent data, retirement funds in these accounts alone total roughly $21 trillion, and for many households, they compose over 34% of average household assets, even excee...

When planning for your death, there’s one issue you may not have thought about, but is so important to your beneficiaries: will your loved ones have to pay taxes on what you leave them? The answer isn't straightforward because it depends largely on the types of assets you're passing down, how much y...

Your mom told you not to worry; she had everything handled. You were her power of attorney, helping her pay bills and manage her accounts. When she passed away, you assumed you'd simply continue handling things the same way you had been.

Then you tried to deposit the insurance check. The bank clerk...

If you are a mom or dad with children under the age of 18 at home, your number-one estate planning priority should be selecting and legally documenting both long and short-term guardians for your kids. Guardians are the people legally named to care for your children in the event something happens to...

When adult siblings come together to care for aging parents, something unexpected often happens. Instead of bringing families closer, the experience frequently exposes old wounds and creates new rifts that never fully heal. What should be a time of unity becomes a source of lasting conflict.

With o...

During a divorce, most spouses are focused on survival. They are worried about who gets the house, how to split the retirement accounts, and creating a custody schedule that works for two busy parents.

The last thing they want to think about are adding more topics to the mediation “To Be Resolved” ...

As the holidays approach, families gather to share food, laughter, and stories. But amid the joy, there is often an unspoken truth: many families avoid the conversations that matter most. What will happen when you are gone? How will your loved ones be cared for? What legacy will you leave behind?

T...

Let's be honest: "estate planning" sounds... Complicated? Overwhelming? The last thing you want to do?

It may sound like a big undertaking, maybe a little intimidating, and definitely like something you can put off until next week. Or next month. We know it’s one of those "important but not urgent...

Many families focus on building wealth, but fewer think about keeping it. Research shows that a majority of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation, and by the third generation, the number climbs as high as 90%. That happens not because parents lack concern for their kids, but be...