Strategic Inheritance

Problems with Safe Deposit Boxes

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:08:20 +0000

I have been told that you want to stay away from safe deposit boxes for documents your executor and heirs will need. I.e., store your will, your living trust, and so forth somewhere other than in a safety deposit box. Otherwise, they may be locked out of access to the very documents they need! But [...]

A new model for effective philanthropy

admin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:33:31 +0000

Sean Stannard-Stockton, CEO of Tactical Philanthropy Advisors, a philanthropy advisory firm that serves individual and family philanthropists, raises a number of questions that seem to lead toward an entirely new way of practicing philanthropy. And when you first read his questions, you may think he is off his rocker. But read on, and I think [...]

Learn from Roger Federer . . .

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:49:11 +0000

The Wall Street Journal featured an article Friday about Roger Federer who is scheduled to begin seeking the Wimbledon championship for the seventh time tomorrow. From my perspective, the article, Federer’s Best Shot, provides a perfect lesson in longevity–maintaining yourself at the top of your game for a long time. “The most remarkable part of [...]

Preparing a legacy plan

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:34:23 +0000

I thought this was a nice way to summarize a lot of the issues you should think about before talking with an attorney or other legacy planning professional about your legacy plan: Make a List of Your People List those to whom you wish to give because of love. Think through special circumstances that may [...]

The three-year rule

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:02:43 +0000

Once you’ve put your initial estate plan/legacy plan together, you should plan to review it every three years. Indeed, you should condition yourself to think of estate planning as a continuous process. Don’t believe that? Check out these reasons for review suggested by the development/stewardship officers at Frontiers USA. Anytime there is a change in [...]

Planning for succession in an emergency

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 06:10:34 +0000

This issue came up a couple of weeks ago when Greg, our company’s controller, and I were trying to set up a wire transfer. Greg raised some questions about security and who ought to have rights to initiate wire transfers and who should have the power to authorize them. As we agreed that our controls [...]

How rich are you?

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:42:48 +0000

I was reading a thread on the Sonlight Curriculum forums yesterday about the demise of the middle class. I will confess, I was dismayed to read about how little some of the participants on that forum are getting by on each year. But then I did a little research this morning using a tool my [...]

Living wills: What measures do you want your caregivers to take?

admin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 04:02:49 +0000

I got thinking about the matter of my living will due to an article I read by a guy whose dad asked him to help him (the dad) kill himself. I was astonished where my mind went. I would appreciate receiving your input. Please participate in the Strategic Inheritance Legacy Lounge Forum. Thanks!

Philanthropy: How much is enough?

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:15:14 +0000

When philanthropic needs surround us, how can we avoid being overwhelmed? Seth Godin raises this question in a post where he develops a theme from the secular preference utilitarian ethicist Peter Singer: Singer is famous for posing a stunningly difficult question, paraphrased as, “If you are walking by a pond and you see a child [...]

Changing your mind

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:46:43 +0000

How do you change the way you think and feel and behave? I’m not talking about the “oops!” kind of mind alteration–y’know, the revelatory, slap-your-forehead, “Oh! Of course! How could I have been so stupid!?!” mental shift. I’m talking about knowing what you need to do–or, even, having a sneaking suspicion that you need to [...]