Perspectives & Insights Article

A special needs trust is a type of trust that enables a person living with a disability or other special needs to receive financial support while maintaining eligibility for government benefits. Is it right for your situation?

As a farmer, you know the importance of planning and preparation. Your daily work involves carefully considering the needs of your land, crops and animals, and making sure that everything is in place for a successful harvest. But what about your own future and the future of your farm?

Losing someone close to you can be extremely difficult—and even more overwhelming—if you are responsible for funeral arrangements and settling personal affairs. We provide a useful checklist to get you headed in the right direction.

Have you made your end-of-life wishes known? Creating a will is a crucial step in planning for your future.

You probably selected your state of residency based on several factors, such as where you grew up, proximity to family or friends, climate and/or the location of your job. A factor you may not have taken into account is the financial impact that comes with your decision to reside in a particular state.

You have worked hard to accumulate your wealth and, through thoughtful planning, you can also determine how it is distributed once you are gone. There are multiple reasons why a trust may be a good option for you.

While all parents are concerned for their children’s well-being, parents of children with special needs face additional challenges in planning for that person’s long-term care and financial support. Early planning and extra consideration can help alleviate fears and produce a strategy that reduces stress.

With the holiday season upon us, it is time to start thinking about how you can give back in a multitude of ways that could also be beneficial to you, as the donor. Making a charitable contribution of money or time in place of traditional gift-giving can make your holiday shopping that much easier, while helping someone in need.

With a new year comes New Year’s resolutions, and although we start the year with good intentions, oftentimes many resolutions fall by the wayside. Some of the most common resolutions include losing weight, spending more time with family and friends, learning a new hobby and getting organized. Taking care of oneself should be at the top of everyone’s New Year’s resolution list, but for many of us we feel the need to take care of others before taking care of ourselves.

In today’s society there is no such thing as simple, especially when it comes to families. Complicated family structures are becoming more prevalent, with a decline in the so-called “traditional family.” According to Pew Research, only 46% of children are living with two married parents in their first marriage, compared with 73% in 1960; one in six children are living in blended families (Parenting in America, Dec. 2015). With these newer unique family structures, come questions and complexit...