Friday, March 13, 2009 Press Coverage of Estate Planning This Week (March 13, 2009)Dow Jones Newswires reporter Arden Dale writes that the volatility in the financial industry is prompting many trust beneficiaries to opt for new trustees, often moving from firms facing financial difficulties to more conservative trust companies. The article includes some tips on what to look for when choosing an institution to manage a trust. See Moving Trusts Amid Churn in Market (Mar. 13, 2009).
Computerworld's Sharon Gaudin writes that the proliferation of online services has added a new wrinkle to an old problem: who gets access to your online accounts, including email, social networking sites and photo storage accounts after you die? One (online) company thinks it has the answer. See Who Gets Your Facebook Page When You Die? (Mar. 11, 2009).
Kiplinger's Jane Bennett Clark reviews several ways to assist children in need while better positioning yourself for estate planning. For instance, low interest rates allow for inexpensive intra-family loans, and depressed stock markets mean you can give children your left-for-dead stocks to get future price appreciation out of your taxable estate. See Charity Begins at Home (April 2009).
The Wall Street Journal's Sue Shellenbarger writes about passing on family stories to children. The article stresses the lasting effects such stories have, even if the child doesn't appear to grasp the full import at the time. The article reinforces the view that estate planning can be much more than just financial planning. See Life Stories: Children Find Meaning in Old Family Tales (Mar. 11, 2009) and also, Estate Planning or Legacy Planning? on the Articles page. |