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Unlicensed Lawyers and Undue Influence – Setting Aside Deed Rejected

In a recent unpublished opinion, 2018 WL 679484,  the South Carolina Court of Appeals addressed the circumstances under which a deed prepared by an unlicensed attorney would be voided in a challenge that also involved claims of undue influence in the execution of the deed.  Briefly, the decedent (“Mother”) executed a deed to her home […]

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The Top 10 Pieces of Retirement Advice You Can Give Your Millennial

Putting the right foot forward now will make all the difference later. Here’s how parents can point their adult children in the right direction. If you’re a parent with kids in their 20s or 30s — or any kids at all — you’re probably no stranger to worrying about their future, including their financial future. […]

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Families, Fiduciaries and Firearms: Estate Administration and Distribution of Firearms in the State of Washington

The ownership of firearms has been a topic of much debate and scrutiny in recent months. As a part of this national conversation, it is important for gun owners (and their fiduciaries) to generally understand the applicable legal regulations pertaining to the transfer of a firearm triggered by the death of the owner, and how […]

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9 Global Stocks to Heat Up Your Portfolio

Prepare for an evolution in consumer technology. If it’s got a screen, it’s about to get a much better screen… and that’s saying something, considering how vivid and vibrant the most recent generation of 4K display screens have been. That evolution, of course, is the mainstreaming of OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screens. Universal Display Corporation […]

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Benefits of Trusts Over 529 Plans and UTMA (Custodial) Accounts for Children and Grandchildren

When parents and grandparents (or other generous benefactors) want to transfer wealth to a minor child, the primary decision they will face is whether to set up a Section 529 Plan, a custodial account under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (an UTMA account) or a trust for such child. Given certain limitations of 529 […]

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10 Warren Buffett Stocks With the Fastest-Growing Dividends

Market value: $913.2 billion Dividend yield: 1.4% 3-year annual dividend growth rate: 10% Warren Buffett first bit into Apple (AAPL, $179.98) during the first quarter of 2016, acquiring a stake worth approximately $1 billion at the time. Since then, Berkshire Hathaway has very aggressively added to its position. In fact, the firm’s stake in Apple […]

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Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Implications for Public Company Executive Compensation Programs

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) has significant implications for public company executive compensation plans for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and will likely have a considerable impact on the future design and administration of public company executive compensation programs. Before the Tax Act, Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue […]

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Hefty Income Hikes Medicare Costs as Surcharges Kick In

Medicare premiums for Part B and Part D can increase significantly for beneficiaries with high earnings. Here’s how to avoid income-based Medicare surcharges. A big question every year at open enrollment for employer health insurance is how much will the premium rise? That doesn’t change once you’re on Medicare–Part B and Part D premiums typically […]

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7 Ways to File Your Taxes Free

Who can use it: Most taxpayers, including those with self-employment or investment income State tax return included Yes Website: Credit Karma Tax Unlike many other free tax-prep programs, Credit Karma Tax isn’t restricted to users with simple tax returns. Taxpayers with income from investments or self-employment can use this program. You can import information from […]

Boost Your Portfolio With 5G-Ready Telecom Stocks

Boost Your Portfolio With 5G-Ready Telecom Stocks

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Market value: $31.9 billion Dividend yield: 3.2% At one time, Finland-based Nokia (NOK, $5.87) was a world leader in the smartphone market. However, the company sold its smartphone business to Microsoft (MSFT) four years ago to focus instead on network and IP infrastructure, […]

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Guardianships and Conservatorships Can Help Protect Loved Ones

The decline of a family member’s health can be one of the most difficult emotional challenges that a family will face. If that ailing family member hasn’t adequately planned for such an event, the burden rests on the family to step in and care for them. Without proper legal authority, this can be difficult.    Fortunately, the court provides a process for obtaining the necessary authority to care […]

The Ins and Outs of Buying Long-Term Care Insurance

The Ins and Outs of Buying Long-Term Care Insurance

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Think about this coverage not just as insurance for long-term care, but for your retirement nest egg itself. With that in mind, here are some tips. I often suggest long-term care insurance to my clients, and I almost always hear this objection: “It’s […]

To Save More, Tap Into Your Emotions

To Save More, Tap Into Your Emotions

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Objects that have special meaning to you could be the key to identifying your savings goals. I am knee-deep in mementos and family heirlooms these days, having cleaned out three separate houses within the past 14 months following my parents’ deaths and an […]

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What Was Your Biggest Financial Mistake?

Kiplinger readers share how they managed to bounce back from a major financial mistake. We received lots of responses to our “Crowdsourcing” question asking you what’s the biggest financial mistake you’ve made and how were you able to recover. Most of your regrets revolve around racking up credit card debt, botching investments and missing retirement-saving […]

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Court Held That Estate Beneficiary Did Not Have Standing To Assert Forfeiture Or Breach Claim Against Executrix’s Attorneys, That An Executrix Had No Authority To Pay Her Attorney’s Fees From The Estate In The Interim In Defending A Removal Action, And That The Trial Court Erred In Refusing A Motion To Compel Distribution Of The Estate

In re Nunu, an estate beneficiary sued the executrix to have her removed due to alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and also sought to have the court refuse to pay her attorneys in representing her in a removal action and/or sought to have those fees forfeited. No. 14-16-00394-CV, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 10306 (Tex. App.—Houston […]

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28 Ways to Stop Wasting Money

Many retailers have annual sales for particular items, typically when they’re clearing out inventory to make room for the coming year’s new lines. You can score big savings by marking your calendar for the best months to buy the following gear. January: linens and bedding, exercise equipment, winter clothing February: TVs, tax-filing software, cookware and […]

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Estate Planning after The Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts of 2017

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Act”) doubled the amount of property that an individual can transfer without incurring federal estate, gift or generation-skipping transfer tax (“Exemption Amount”) from $5,490,000 in 2017 to $11,180,000 (indexed for inflation) in 2018. The Exemption Amount is “portable” for estate and gift tax purposes (but not […]

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5 “Oddball” Dividend Stocks With Big Yields

Market value: $4.1 billion Dividend yield: 7.3% Industry: Entertainment and education real estate While most real estate investment trusts specialize in broad asset classes such as apartments or office buildings, EPR Properties (EPR, $56.13) has a very specific niche, focusing mostly on entertainment. In fact, EPR is an abbreviation for “Entertainment Properties.” EPR’s holdings include […]

What I Bought When Stocks Tanked

What I Bought When Stocks Tanked

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Our “Practical Investing” columnist happily seized the moment to buy two stocks that had been on her wish list for a long time: Costco and Boeing. As those who have followed this column for a while now, I become nervous during stock market […]

Where Home Prices Are Headed in 2018

Where Home Prices Are Headed in 2018

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   A tap on the brakes from the new tax law may be just what the market needs. New Jersey is the poster child for the high-cost, high-tax states where housing markets—and homeowners—are supposed to suffer under the new tax law. Patrice and Kalvin […]

Charitable Giving Under the New Tax Law

Charitable Giving Under the New Tax Law

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   The new tax law may discourage donations. But you can still support your causes and reduce your tax bill with these strategies. The chance to get a deduction for their generosity often motivates charitable givers to become even more generous and write larger […]

Lottery Winnings _ Impact on Social Security

Lottery Winnings’ Impact on Social Security

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   The sudden windfall won’t reduce your benefits. Here’s why. Q. If I win the Powerball jackpot, will that affect my Social Security benefits? I’m 63, so I’m worried about the earnings test. –L.S., Boca Raton, Fla. See Also: 5 Better Investments Than Powerball […]

Insurance for Home Sharers

Insurance for Home Sharers

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Home-sharing services and your homeowners’ policy may cover liability and damages by tenants, but the insurance may fall short. March 8, 2018 From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Q. I’m thinking about renting out my house through a home-sharing service while I’m away for a […]

Keep Health Care Out-of-Pocket Costs in Check

Keep Health Care Out-of-Pocket Costs in Check

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   We asked patient advocates who focus on helping consumers with their medical bills to share some secrets. Even if you have good insurance from your employer, you probably shoulder a large share of your medical costs, from monthly premiums to deductibles and co-payments. […]

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How to Make a Complaint and Get Results

Keep your cool, create a paper trail and take it all the way to the top if you need to. Christopher Elliott, founder of Elliott.org. Courtesy of Christopher Elliott By Lisa Gerstner, Contributing Editor March 8, 2018From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Christopher Elliott is the founder of elliott.org, which helps consumers resolve disputes with businesses, free […]

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Evaluating The Fitness Of Your Estate Plan For 2018 In Light Of The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act

The recent passage of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) significantly altered federal estate tax laws effective January 1, 2018. The TCJA increased exemption amounts for federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes, any one of which may impact your current estate plan. In many instances, these changes mean your estate planning documents […]

Should You Invest in Commodities_

Should You Invest in Commodities?

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Investments in crops, metals, energy, currencies and other tangible things tend to go up when stocks and bonds go down. The market has again reminded us that stocks can move in two directions. It’s an old story but easy to forget: When inflation […]

Dividend 15 Stocks: A Mixed Bag

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/     Our picks trailed the S&P 500 index as the market’s love went to companies with the fastest earnings growth. When we launched the Kiplinger Dividend 15 in the December 2017 issue, we didn’t expect our favorite dividend-paying stocks to be big winners […]

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7 Growth Stocks with Great Promise

You probably don’t think about the packaging when you buy a box of Cheerios. But the colorful box was made with some high-tech equipment, including a sophisticated adhesive-dispensing system. Nordson makes that equipment, along with other products to apply materials such as coatings and sealants on assembly lines for everything from cereal boxes to computer […]

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Pension Possibilities: IRA Rollover? Buy an Annuity? Or Take the Payout?

Making your decision on the type of payout you receive in retirement requires considering these four factors. Pension decisions aren’t clear-cut, and they can have serious consequences for you and your family. SEE ALSO: Lower Your Expectations on Pension-Plan Promises Take some clients of mine, for example. The husband, age 65, wanted the highest monthly […]

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New Baby on Way? The 8 Financial Steps You Should Take to Prepare

Congratulations! Now get busy. From health insurance to car seats, here’s what expectant parents should do to get ready for their new arrival. As you prepare to welcome a baby into the world, the excitement and anticipation of meeting your child for the first time can be overwhelming. Although you have nine months to prepare, […]

Using a Health Savings Account to Pay for Long-Term-Care Insurance

Using a Health Savings Account to Pay for Long-Term-Care Insurance

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   You can tap an HSA to pay for long-term-care insurance, but the amount you can withdraw tax-free depends on your age. Q. Can I withdraw money tax-free from my health savings account to pay my long-term-care insurance premiums? If I can, is there […]

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Will the “Real” Representative Please Stand – Litigation in Estate Proceedings

Last month, the Supreme Court of South Carolina, in Fisher v. Huckabee, 2018 WL 1076808 (Feb. 28, 2018), addressed the question of who may bring a suit on behalf of a deceased individual if the personal representative has a conflict.  Briefly, the decedent asked the defendants to care for her in her last years.  In […]

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2018 Estate Tax Changes

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra: Privacy Policy (Updated: October 8, 2015): hide JD Supra provides users with access to its legal industry publishing services (the “Service”) through its website (the “Website”) as well as through other sources. Our policies with regard […]

10 Companies Making Huge Stock Buybacks in 2018

10 Companies Making Huge Stock Buybacks in 2018

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Buyback commitment: $6 billion While the Gold Rush of 1849 panned out to be a windfall for a few lucky prospectors, most of the miners who headed west seeking their fortune found nothing but disappointment. The only reliable way of making any money […]

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Momentum Builds in Housing Market

Kiplinger’s latest forecast on housing starts and home sales iStockphoto By Rodrigo Sermeño, Reporter March 2, 2018 Residential construction started 2018 on a good note. Total housing starts jumped 9.7% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.326 million. With the January rise, residential construction regained the ground it had lost in the […]

9 States with No Income Tax

9 States with No Income Tax

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   State Income Taxes: There’s no state income tax, so salaries, wages, Social Security benefits, IRA distributions and pension income are not taxed. But Tennessee does have the Hall Tax, which taxes dividends and some interest at 4% (in 2017). The first $1,250 in […]

Run, Don_t Walk, From Leveraged ETFs

Run, Don’t Walk, From Leveraged ETFs

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Leveraged ETFs may make exciting moves, but these trading instruments are perilous for most portfolios. The competition for investor dollars is fierce, and Wall Street is rife with financial geniuses figuring out new products designed to profit from even the most esoteric of […]

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Decoding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 for Estate and Wealth Planning

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra: Privacy Policy (Updated: October 8, 2015): hide JD Supra provides users with access to its legal industry publishing services (the “Service”) through its website (the “Website”) as well as through other sources. Our policies with regard […]

What to Do With Leftover Money in a 529 College-Savings Plan

What to Do With Leftover Money in a 529 College-Savings Plan

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/     There’s no time limit for spending money in a 529 college-savings plan, so leftover dollars in an account can be used by other family members now or by a new generation in the future. Q. My children are now through with college, […]

Consider Annuities for Reliable Retirement Income

Consider Annuities for Reliable Retirement Income

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com   When the market fails, retirees shouldn’t be left to worry about whether their portfolios can continue to support them. Most investors try to accumulate as much money as possible to alleviate the worry of running out of it one day. And why not? […]

Important Information about the 2017 Tax Cuts _ Jobs Act_ Estate _ Gift Tax Provisions

Important Information about the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act: Regulatory Outlook

Source: Tucker Arensberg This article was originally published on Tucker Arensberg – https://www.tuckerlaw.com/   Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra: Privacy Policy (Updated: October 8, 2015): JD Supra provides users with access to its legal industry publishing services (the “Service”) through its […]

9 Safe Dividend Stocks to Buy for Timely Retirement Yield

9 Safe Dividend Stocks to Buy for Timely Retirement Yield

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Market value: $199.4 billion Dividend yield: 3.5% Five-year average yield: 3.4% Another favorite holding for low-risk investors is Procter & Gamble (PG, $78.52). The consumer goods giant sells many different products under 65 brands such as Luvs, Pampers, Cascade, Crest and Gillette. P&G’s […]

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Changes in Planning for Closely Held Businesses Under the New Tax Law

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra: Privacy Policy (Updated: October 8, 2015): hide JD Supra provides users with access to its legal industry publishing services (the “Service”) through its website (the “Website”) as well as through other sources. Our policies with regard […]

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Georgia Superior Court Could Not Sanction Probate Court Conduct

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra: Privacy Policy (Updated: October 8, 2015): hide JD Supra provides users with access to its legal industry publishing services (the “Service”) through its website (the “Website”) as well as through other sources. Our policies with regard […]

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Amending Old Tax Returns to Claim Overlooked Credits

You have up to three years to file an amended return and other paperwork with the IRS to claim missed tax deductions or credits. Getty Images By Kimberly Lankford, Contributing Editor February 28, 2018 QI read your column on An Overlooked Tax Break for Part-Timers — about semiretired people and the retirement savers’ tax credit […]

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Important Information about the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act: Estate & Gift Tax Provisions

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra: Privacy Policy (Updated: October 8, 2015): hide JD Supra provides users with access to its legal industry publishing services (the “Service”) through its website (the “Website”) as well as through other sources. Our policies with regard […]

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5 Top Sin Stocks Worth Forgiving

Defense giant Raytheon (RTN) is the world’s largest producer of guided missiles. “Strong broad order momentum, a large Patriot backlog, and untapped financial firepower give RTN extended EPS and cash flow per share growth potential” cheers five-star Cowen & Co. analyst Cai Rumohr. Foreign sales are booming, with sales increasing for the last 14 years. […]