As I reflect back on my college years I mainly remember how much fun it was and then once I entered the ‘real world’ feeling a bit shocked at the reality of it all. There is definitely a feeling of leaving one world and entering another completely different one. I also remember receiving very little […]
Advice for College Graduates- Part I
Advice for College Graduates- Part I
As I reflect back on my college years I mainly remember how much fun it was and then once I entered the ‘real world’ feeling a bit shocked at the reality of it all. There is definitely a feeling of leaving one world and entering another completely different one. I also remember receiving very little […]
Summer Fun Without Financial Pain
Hopefully, you got your summer off to a terrific start over the Memorial Day weekend. Now, you’re probably looking forward to some more long weekends or a real vacation. Of course, you deserve to have fun this summer but don’t throw financial caution to the wind. Here are some tips to help keep your finances […]
Summer Fun Without Financial Pain
Hopefully, you got your summer off to a terrific start over the Memorial Day weekend. Now, you’re probably looking forward to some more long weekends or a real vacation. Of course, you deserve to have fun this summer but don’t throw financial caution to the wind. Here are some tips to help keep your finances […]
The Roth-Child Strategy
How would you like to help your child blaze a path towards becoming a multimillionaire and teach them the value of hard work and the importance of saving for the future all at the same time? Here’s a concept that I call The Roth-Child Strategy… a play on words related to the famous Rothschild family. […]
10 Things to Do if You Lose Your Job
It’s true that the economy and job market are improving yet the pace of the recovery remains slow. Certain sectors such as manufacturing remain weak and job losses continue. If you lose your job or know someone who recently lost his or her job, here are ten things to do immediately. Decide on health insurance. […]
Do Prenuptial Agreements Work?
I was recently brought into a case involving the second marriage for a couple who were in their seventies. They had the foresight to set up a prenuptial agreement that outlined a minimal division of assets at the time of death or if the marriage failed. It appeared the couple had taken the appropriate steps […]
Is Now the Time to Buy Beach House?
Reader Question: My home is paid for except for a $40,000 home equity line of credit. We are considering taking out a mortgage on our home to take advantage of the 2.5% interest rates and using the proceeds to buy a beach condo. Is this something you would recommend for an investment? T.G. Answer: Beach […]
Death and Taxes
Reader Question: My dad deeded his house to my sister and me in 2004 with a deed that had a life estate for him until he died. He died last March. We were able to sell his house a few months after his death. Will the basis for the sale be what he paid for […]
Property Tax Exemption for Senior Citizens
Reader Question: In a prior column, you mentioned an exemption from the State of Alabama property tax on your primary home if you are age sixty-five or older. I’m sixty-five and my wife is sixty-one. Since the deed is in both of our names, would we qualify for the exemption? B.M. Answer: Yes. Only one […]