Stieg Larsson, for those of you who can’t place the name offhand, was a Swedish journalist and right wing political activist for most of his life. He will be remembered though as the author of the novel turned blockbuster movie, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. As is the case with many writers, Larsson lived a modest life without acquiring a significant estate up to the time of his death.

We have all heard the warning for years now about the Social Security retirement system. Some analysts issue warnings that are dire predictions of doom while others tell us that the problem can be fixed. So do you need to be worried and if so what can you do about it?

Millions of Americans have not taken the time to sit down and create a comprehensive estate plan. In addition, a shocking number of Americans have also not sat down and discussed their funeral and/or burial wishes with loved ones. If you are one of those people, stop and consider the consequences of not doing these things now, before it’s too late.

Most people think to create a plan for their personal assets in the event of their death; however, if you are an owner, or part owner, in a business, you need to include your business assets in your estate planning.

When you are looking ahead to your active retirement years and the twilight period that will follow you must evaluate your anticipated expenses.

One of the reasons why it is advisable to retain the services of an experienced estate planning attorney is to guide you in a manner that enables you to gain tax efficiency

Retirement planning lawyers frequently emphasize how vital it is to devise a plan and stick to it if you want to enjoy your retirement years to the fullest.

At the present time there are 10,000 people applying for Social Security for the first time each and every day because of the fact that the baby boomer generation is reaching retirement age. This in itself is a stunning statistic, but when you hear that this number of daily applicants is expected to persist for the next twenty years it really gets your attention. Are all of these people prepared for retirement financially?

When you are planning your estate failing to remember all of the people that you would like to include on your inheritance list is probably not going to be much of a concern. Yet, you may be surprised to hear that there are a lot of people who actually do fail to make provisions for loving dependents who are actually still living at home.

Understanding all the options that are available to you is key when you are planning for your retirement years. This is one of the reasons why it is a good idea to work with a retirement planning attorney well in advance of your retirement so that you can tap into that expertise and formulate a fully informed plan.

The day that you get your first job that comes with a benefits package is probably going to be the time when you are first introduced to estate planning.

If you have a dog, cat or other pet, you know that the unconditional love and affection our pets devote to us improve the quality of our lives in ways nothing else can. Who Will Care For Your Pets? If you have a dog, cat or other pet, you know that the unconditional love and affection our pets devote to us improve the quality of our lives in ways nothing else can. This is why they deserve our respect and dedication even after we pass away or become incapacitated.

Chances are you’ve already heard a lot about the attributes of Living Trusts: avoiding probate and legal quagmires, sometimes lowering estate and/or income taxes and protecting privacy. Yet it’s also important to receive solid estate planning guidance before making final decisions, and to carefully weigh the benefits and potential drawbacks.

Estate planning is an essential part of life and death. In planning for our future and our family’s future, we must take stock of who we are, what our goals are, and how we want our estate distributed. With the easy availability of do-it-yourself Wills and Living Trusts, it can be all too tempting to take care of your estate planning needs yourself, rather than pay, what may seem like high fees, to an estate planning attorney.

The first priorities when you are engaged in the process of estate planning are usually going to involve inventorying and positioning your assets, but it is important to remember the recipients as well. The inheritances that you will be leaving behind to your loved ones are going to be going to specific individuals who have unique personalities and proclivities.

One of your top priorities when you are planning your estate is going to be to determine whether or not your heirs will be exposed to the estate tax

Traditionally people tend to think about estate planning as the practice of drawing up a last will. They assume that alternate vehicles of asset transfer, such as trusts, are only something that the wealthy should consider. This is really not the case because there are a number of pitfalls involved in using a will as your vehicle of transfer, and they stem from the fact that your estate must pass through the process of probate when you use a will.

Estate planning is typically thought of as a purely financial endeavor, and it is true that preparation of assets for eventual distribution to your loved ones after your passing is central to the exercise.

One of the things that you are going to have to decide upon when you are planning your estate is the primary vehicle or vehicles of asset transfer that you want to utilize.

When you are a partner in a small business succession planning can be a bit tricky.

Planning for the latter portion of your life has its ups and downs. When you are immersed in your working years and find yourself looking forward to an active retirement it can actually be fun to map out a financial strategy that will culminate in the ability to enjoy your golden years to the utmost. And though it certainly couldn't be described as “fun,” most people are aware of the fact that they must engage in estate planning as well.

It is no secret that there are some rather arcane terms tossed around in the legal profession, giving rise to the notion of "legalese." Estate planning has its share of somewhat confusing terminology, and this is in part because of the fact that there are a number of variations of the same basic legal instruments commonly utilized.

When you are planning for the latter stages of your life it is important to recognize the substantial costs associated with long-term care. Each year the MetLife Mature Market Institute releases a detailed survey that places long-term care under the microscope, and the 2010 figures are sobering to many observers.

The provisions contained within the tax relief bill that was passed through Congress and signed into law around the middle of December of last year are scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. If no new laws are passed to change the status quo, the estate tax exclusion will return to $1 million in 2013, and the tax will carry a 55% maximum rate.

When you're in the earlier stages of estate planning you are probably preparing in a rather general way for something that seems like it is a long way off. This is a good idea because it is important to have at least a rudimentary estate plan in place from a young age.

We heard a lot about the legislation that was passed in the middle of December that is now being called the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 as we were ushering in the new year. As a result of this action the Bush era tax cuts were extended and the Social Security payroll tax was reduced by nearly a third for 2011. As has been widely reported there were also some changes that affect the estate tax.

Throughout your life you pay so many taxes you actually become desensitized to just how comprehensively you're being taxed at every turn. From the start you're left holding perhaps four dollars out of every ten that you earned after paying income taxes.

When you're making plans for the latter stages of your life there is more than one facet to consider. Of course the financial considerations are a large part of the exercise, but there is a health-care component to keep in mind as well. People are living to extremely advanced ages these days, and the older you get the more likely it is that you will go through a period of incapacity before you pass away.

One of the most amazing demographic realities of our time is the rapid aging of the United States population. The baby boomer generation is reaching retirement age, and as a result senior citizens are the fastest growing age group. This is more than just a statistical oddity that is interesting to mention. It also has practical implications that are very relevant to anyone who is engaged in retirement planning.

Doing things for yourself that are otherwise done by professionals can be a way to save yourself some money, and some people actually enjoy these DIY projects a great deal. If you confine your efforts to a certain milieu you can actually make a hobby of it, and many people do, obtaining all the right tools or equipment over time.

The recently passed Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 that brought the estate tax rate down to 35% has been a hot topic of late. In case you are unaware of the back story, the rate of the tax was scheduled to revert to the 55% that was in effect in 2001 upon the “sunset” of the Bush era tax cuts at the beginning of 2011. The tax was repealed for 2010, but from 2007 to 2009 the rate of the tax was 45%.

When you are making out your mortgage check each month the thought may cross your mind that it would be nice to be in the position of the lender, receiving the checks rather than sending them. These days there is a loan product on the market that can make this daydream a reality: the reverse mortgage.

Probate is the legal process of estate administration, and when you start to take an interest in estate planning you will see frequent mention of probate avoidance strategies. We have covered some of them in this space and there are some valid reasons to look for ways to avoid probate.

Being in a position to bequeath a large sum of money and/or property and other assets to your heirs can be very satisfying, providing you with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that they will be provided for financially when you are no longer going to be there for them.

Within every professional milieu there is a certain jargon that arises and in many cases terms that are kind of wordy are reduced down to the initials that represent them.

Estate planning involves much more than simply dividing and distributing assets after you are gone.

Optimizing your assets is one of the goals of estate planning, and depending on the circumstances this can often times be challenging.

Social Security is a federal program managed by the Social Security Administration. Funds for social security retirement benefits and social security disability insurance come from taxes which are collected from the paychecks of every working American. There are three ways you may be eligible to receive benefits.

Do you know the best age to start withdrawing from your retirement account? Do you plan to work for a few years after you're eligible for Social Security withdrawals? Is there an age by which you must withdraw money from your IRA?) You're nearing retirement age, but maybe you're unsure at what age you can begin using that money you've socked away all these years.

While having others depend on you can be stressful, it can also be extremely rewarding and knowing you’re helping a loved one is always a good way to spend your time. But how do you ensure your loved one continues to receive that care after you’re gone?