Book Description
This is an easy-to-use and fast way for you and other members of your household to create your own advance directive, also known as a living will, durable power of attorney for health care, living revocable trust, and all the other must-have documents you need to protect you and your family. It's as easy as 1-2-3—simply personalize, print, and protect.
Suze Orman and her own estate trust attorney have created the most state-of-the-art documents found anywhere. There are more than $2,500 worth of estate documents in this kit. Why pay thousands of dollars when you can get the same documents in this kit!
This kit includes:
• More than 50 state-of-the-art documents • Free automatic on-line updates • Verbal and written instructions taking you step by step through the four must-have documents • Password protection securing multiple users' information • A tutorial that shows you everything you need to know • 10 electronic books
PC and Macintosh Compatible . . . and good in all 50 states!
Customer Reviews:
simplistic.......2007-07-16
This is okay for people who have never been exposed to wills or trusts. Does not allow you edit easily or transfer docs to legal size etc like Willmaker. I'm sure it has to do with compromising their advice but you just don't have any leeway whereas other programs flat out tell you that if you modify their language it's your responsibility. Probably ok if you know NOTHING about trusts and still want to investigate doing them yourself. I expected more.
Looks good.. haven't gotten around to completing the will yet.......2007-07-06
Will know in a month or two when I do the actual Will papers.. and will probably update with more at that time.. looks pretty good so far..
A difficult job made do-able.......2007-06-09
It is more fun to eat live snails than to sit down and do trusts and wills, not to mention the dreaded Advanced Directive.
Everyone puts off this very necessary chore because they know that going to an attorney is expensive and that all this is necessary because of death, a subject we avoid when possible.
Now there are many software programs that promise to make it possible for many people to do this work at home and without the expense of an attorney. Be aware, though, that attorneys say that people trying to do it themselves can make expensive mistakes and that the fee for professional services is money well spent.
I suspect that many people with uncomplicated estates can probably do ok with a software program, but that complicated estates really need an attorney. The question of what is fairly simple and what is complicated can only be answered by the individual.
Even if you have doubts about doing it yourself, it makes sense to get a program and do it anyway. You will know the kind of questions you have to answer and generally get an idea of the process. Then you can go to an attorney with some backround that will make the process easier, maybe saving an hour or three of expensive attorney time.
The Orman program is heavily advertised and Suze herself is kind of a celebrity. It is also reasonably priced and the advertisements seemed realistic. I went with Suze and successfully filled everything out, got the appropriate forms witnessed and notarized and copies sent to relatives, doctors and hospitals. Felt a lot better afterward as I am sure most people do.
A will is like having a colonoscopy. Everyone knows they should have one, but put it off as long as possible. I was forced into action because I was facing a serious time in the hospital and thought that if I left feet first, that my wife and kids would have a terrible time dealing with stuff a will would make easier. All turned out well, but I am really glad I did the paperwork and do not have to think about it unless things change.
The advanced directive, in case some people don't know, is a legal document that allows a hospital to cut off life support when you are brain dead in case your spouse is not available to give the word. This is not an uncommon occurrence as you could both be dead or incapacitated in a crash, for example. You can be free to go without interference from politicians who think they can raise the dead or from relatives who can't make the decision. Doctors know when it is time.
The Orman program is probably about as simple as it can be, but it deals with legalities, life and death, money and real estate and other property. That is all hard stuff. Attorneys will likely charge close to $2000 to do this because it takes hours of work. So, it is not an easy even for professionals. I managed to complete everything in about five hours. Those that have used tax software will find the process familiar.
Suze gives you stuff to read and also does a voice-over in some cases. Other experts also chime in now and then. I thought this was going to be annoying, but actually found it to be useful. I do suggest earphones or decent speakers if you are forced to operate in a noisy environment.
In California, at least, some of the forms need to be witnessed and notarized. The witnesses cannot be beneficiaries, so you have to get two strangers to sign some ominous documents for someone they do not know. I was lucky to find a couple in the hair salon next door to the notary. This is not the fault of Orman, but still you have to line people up. You might call the notary for advice. Stupid requirement.
There are multiple forms, several pages each. You need to make copies for relatives, your doctor and hospitals. That adds up to a lot of copies and a lot of paper that needs to be accurately collated. I suggest you get a stapler and a bunch of manila mailers that are addressed.
You also need cover letters. For example, the copy of the advanced directive that goes to your doctors should have a cover letter explaining that you are sending the directive so it will be in their files in case the need should arise to use it some day.
I also emailed my relatives and told them their will and directive copies were coming and what my general expectations were. I guess it is more traditional to keep it a secret until the end. Depends, I suppose.
Oh, and one of the forms is a narrative that details the disposition of your property. For example, you could say that aunt Mary gets your collection of pornographic statues, Uncle Bill gets the tv and so on.
So, it took me all day to complete the program, get witnesses and notary, collate and mail everything. That is about as fast as possible I think. Afterward, I felt relieved and accomplished. I had more than one drink in celebration.
There is nothing as nice as getting nagging odious tasks done. And the colonoscopy saved my life, so there.
I gave Suze five stars. I have not compared her program to any of the others. The legal requirements are the same and I figure Orman is in a position to hire competent legal and technical people. There is no way to know if everything will go smoothly for my heirs. One could hire an attorney to look it over and that shouldn't take too long.
The program does a good job of guiding you through a complex procedure. You still have to make decisions, of course, but the fact that this all went smoothly and everything printed was very impressive. This was done on a Mac, which is good since programs like this are usually ported to Windows first. Now that Macs also run Windows makes it even more likely to work for you on any computer.
I am impressed with this program and recommend it. I doubt that there is any way to make a will/trust/directive program any easier and I trust that the people behind it are competent. So, five stars.
Will and Trust Kit.......2007-05-07
Overall the Will and Trust kit is very easy to use. It is a bit glitchy on the Mac, but when I switched to the PC I was able to produce all the documents I needed. What I like most is that after creating the Trust document, the program walked me through funding the trust. It does not matter how much you know about Wills and Trusts, all you need to know is who you want to get what when you die. As a bonus you get the Living Will document. This is something I wish my father had when he was sick and finally died.
not enough info about what this software can offer.......2007-04-04
The software does not give enough info about what this software is capable of doing. For example, I found out in the middle of interview questions that the software can not do AB trust. THis makes this software totally useless.
Book Description
This is the landmark book that changed the way exceptional families think about their heritage, their wealth, and their legacy to future generations - now revised and expanded. "A masterpiece. No one is more astute than Jay Hughes about the topics of family wealth and family life." - Charles W. Collier, Senior Philanthropic Adviser, Harvard Univesity.
Customer Reviews:
Great Treatment of Family Wealth Topics.......2007-09-28
I really enjoyed this book. It's a great treatment of key issues facing families transitioning significant wealth across generations.
This is not a tedious discussion of dry, technical strategies requiring an LLM in taxation to understand. Rather, it is an analysis of ways to maximize the long-term positive impacts of wealth on a family while minimizing the negative ones.
While this book would be a helpful read for anyone concerned about leaving heirs more than just money, I think families with estates over $5MM would find some of the advice most directly applicable to the challenges they face.
Family Wealth - Keeping it in the Family.......2007-02-16
As an advisor, preparing for my first Family Meeting, I found this more helpful than most other books on Family Governance. I really liked the way in which it talks about not just financial capital, and social capital, but human & intellectual capital as well. It resonated well with me and with my Family Office clients. It gives more of a structure for developing the governance model than other books I've seen.
Immensely valuable for members of a family business.......2007-01-03
Chapter 1 applied most directly to my situation, and this chapter alone makes the book worth having on my shelf. Hughes' perspective, from both his own family and his experience advising other families, gives the book authority.
Often family wealth seems to be treated as a "dirty little secret" where money concerns trump people concerns. Hughes provides a framework where financial, human, and intellectual assets can all be considered. He shows that family wealth can be a path towards growth of individuals, families, and their wealth, through investments, philanthropy, and professional development.
Bravo!
Hands on, long term familiy peace.......2006-08-19
I profound and comprehensive book on long term principles and practices to preserve family wealth (human an financial).
A must reading for medium family businesses.
Addresses issues of significant importance in the wealth management process.......2006-08-18
As principal of a financial planning and wealth management firm, I highly recommend this book for families who have acquired wealth and want their children and future generations to be concerned about their human, intellectual and social development in addition to the growth of their financial resources.
Family Wealth does a good job of addressing issues of importance to wealthy families such as the need to create and establish mission statements, plan for family governance and how to create a mutually rewarding relationship with trustees and financial advisors.
As someone with practical experience in planning and/or supervising all aspects of a client's financial planning needs with the goal of protecting and enhancing retirement assets and estates, I especially like the emphasis by Hughes on the need for long-term thinking and how personal and intellectual development is just as important as financial decisions in the family organization.
This book has added a new dimension to our multi-disciplined practice. Along with our principal specialty, retirement income and retirement plan distribution strategies, we now help our clients think of ways to use their financial capital to nurture and enhance their human and intellectual capital.
Book Description
Popular speaker, multimillionaire, and author of the all-time bestselling real-estate book Nothing Down, Robert G. Allen knows how to bring you financial success. With his seminars sweeping the nation, Allen is at the cutting edge of strategic wealth creation now more than ever. And in this completely revised edition of his classic bestseller Creating Wealth Allen gives you the basic principles that you need to stop thinking poor and start growing rich.
Moving beyond just real estate, Allen goes straight to the core of people's inner motivations and beliefs about money to give you all the fundamentals of wealth creation. By developing a wealthy mind-set, anyone can take off into financial self-reliance -- and Allen shows you how. He explains the ways in which most of us have been programmed to think that only saving is good and debt and risk are bad, so that in our efforts to gain security, we cheat ourselves out of getting rich. The key to changing that mind-set is Allen's unique integration of real estate with other wealth-generating investments.
In his trademark, easy-to-understand style Allen spells out all his practical applications and shows you how to:
-
Take advantage of recent tax laws
- Use leverage to multiply holdings while minimizing risks
- Benefit from high-yield discount mortgages
- Acquire long-term profits in gold and silver coins
- Set up corporations and trusts to protect assets
- Find the highest rate of return with the greatest liquidity
As Robert Allen has proved in his own life -- becoming a multimillionaire well before he was thirty-five -- it doesn't matter how much or how little money you have when you start as long as you understand the right principles -- timeless principles that can make you a fortune.
Customer Reviews:
Don't buy it if you don't want REAL RESULTS.......2007-10-17
Allen's book provides a pragmatic perspective on real estate. Much better than Carlton Sheets and other books on Real Estate Investment. There are a gizillion books on Real Estate and building financial wealth, however most of them are filled with common-sense cliches and psychological mumbo jumbo. If you want to gain real wealth,you must read these books:
1.The 12 Month Millionaire (http://www.12monthmillionairebook.net.tc/ )
2. Trump:How to get Rich (Amazon.com)
3.The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich (Amazon.com)
4.Creating Wealth (Amazon.com)
--Matthew
New edition OUTDATED; Many examples; Few clear details.......2007-04-08
I read this book cover to cover.
The book is broken into 5 parts: Foundation (the hook), Creating Wealth (the scheme), Concentration (the early stages), Perpetuating Wealth (the maturing stages), and Real Wealth (the later stages).
The Foundation starts off with some very cheesy motivational advice ("Bob Allen, you're great! You are a unique new kind of person ..."). To each his own, I guess. Then a sample of how different people would invest a $100,000 windfall. Of course every one is an idiot for 1) diversifying, 2) paying down debt, 3) investing in stocks, or 4) taking a vacation. He does make a very good argument for leveraging your debt to create wealth. That is the gem of this book.
The second part says buy 2 rental houses per year for 10 years. There's no discussion of other real estate options, just single family homes at below median price. He lays out his plan for 1) leveraging up to create wealth, 2) then jettisoning debt, diversifying, and creating a tax shelter. It's frustrating, though, because he just critized paying down debt and diversify and doesn't really explain the whys and whens. He actually suggests selling properties (and paying capital gains tax) to pay down debt, then immediately buying properties to create a tax shelter. Is he a fool? I can't tell. Though he referenced future chapters, there was no explanation for this bizarre suggesting in the referenced chapters. In fact, there is a big disconnect between the sections in the book. Many of my main questions went unanswered.
The next section, Concentrating, is the best. It describes some of the ins and outs of buying and owning properties. However, one gets the impression that his success is more due to being a good negotiator than to having a fool-proof system.
The Perpetuating Wealth section talks about discounted mortgages, gold coins, diversifying, legal structures, and taxes. These chapters are very disjoined and hit or miss. While discounted mortgages is quite interesting, he shows his limits in a discussion of ratios. He uses a Debt-to-Assets ratio and a Equity-to-Debt ratio to grade loans. Hello? These ratios contain equivalent information. Is he really using these to make decisions? His third ratio, Discount-to-Debt is followed by an example saying a $1000 discount may not be a bargain because costs in a default could exceed $1000. But the ratio isn't what gives one this information.
The legal structures chapter gives little useful information and taxes just doesn't get the job done. It has a pretty bad plumbing analogy for taxes. The final diagram has 3 buckets, 6 spigots, a filter, a manual pump, a few hoses spraying $$$, and some $$$ sprinkling on a piggy bank and a family. Now I get it.
The final 2 chapters are one saying education is useful and the other with nothing but 6 pages of quotes.
A Key to Riches.......2007-03-15
A very informative book that spells out the steps necessary to obtaining wealth legally and in a period of time almost anyone can achieve. A must read for those seeking the secrets to wealth.
John Nuzzolese, President of The Landlord Protection Agency.......2007-03-14
With Creating Wealth, Robert Allen made a tremendous impact on my life because it reinforced my belief that I can do it. The book is charged with positivity and packed with great ideas. I found it extremely inspirational. Inspirational enough for me to participate in Robert Allen's 1987 Challenge Experience. Great books like this are just as informative and inspiring today as they were 20 years ago. I love this book.
Great Knowledge base.......2007-01-15
This is a great book on how to make and keep money. Highly recommended.
Book Description
If you’re like most people, you want to be sure that, once you’ve passed on, no more of your property and money will be lost to the government than is absolutely necessary. You want to know that you’ll be leaving your heirs your assets and not your debts. You want to be absolutely certain that your will is ship-shape, your insurance policies are structured properly, and that every conceivable hole in your estate plan has been filled. And most of all, you’d like to do all of this without driving yourself crazy trying to make sense of the complicated jargon, jumble of paperwork, and welter of state and federal laws involved in the estate planning process.
Written by two estate planning pros, this simple, easy-to-use guide takes the pain out of planning for your ultimate financial future. In plain English, the authors walk you step-by-step through everything you need to know to:
- Put your estate into order
- Minimize estate taxes
- Write a proper will
- Deal with probate
- Set up trusts
- Make sure your insurance policies are structured properly
- Plan for special situations, like becoming incompetent and pet care
- Craft a solid estate plan and keep it up-to-date
Don’t leave the final disposition of your estate up to chance and the whims of bureaucrats. Estate Planning For Dummies gives you the complete lowdown on:
- Figuring out what you're really worth
- Mastering the basics of wills and probate
- Using will substitutes and dodging probate taxes
- Setting up protective trusts, charitable trusts, living trusts and more
- Making sense of state and federal inheritance taxes
- Avoiding the generation skipping transfer tax
- Minimizing all your estate-related taxes
- Estate planning for family businesses
- Creating a comprehensive estate plan
Straightforward, reader-friendly, easy-to-use, Estate Planning For Dummies is the ultimate guide to planning your family’s future.
Customer Reviews:
Not of value to me..........2007-01-09
I purchased the Willmaker Plus CD. The accompanying manual looked a bit thin so I ordered Estate Planning for Dummies to read before getting down to the Willmaker manual and program. Frankly, it was a waste of time and money, as the Willmaker manual and the on-screen help was more concise and better written. I've been happy with several Dummies books, but this isn't one of them.
You would be a dummie to buy this book........2006-06-22
Open this book and you will see that it is formatted and reads like every other textbook you have read since college. The writing makes no attempt to reduce the complexities of the subject. It simply reiterates all the language you never understood in the first place. As the author of "Everything A Baby Boomer Should Know -- An Insider's Guide to Estate Planning," I suggest you compare my book which honestly and easily explains the tools of the probate system, to this book which is impossible to understand if you have no background on the subject.
Its okay but I wanted more-specific information.......2006-01-09
This book gives you general information about Estate Planning but It left me wanting more. I was surprise that it didnt mention anything about AB trust. I wish it would have given the upside and donwnside to each options of wills or trust.
I would have settled for a checklist what to ask your lawyer or accountant considering that he kept harping of always ask your lawyer. Although I see the lawyer point, if I was meeting with a lawyer I would have not wasted 20 dollars and change to read the book.
Many who read books like Dummies want to avoid paying thousands of dollars to a lawyer or as I mention , and if you want me to ask my lawyer at least give me very specific checklist of questions.
If you could, buy it at a discount or borrow it from the library. I probably sell mine on Ebay.
They weren't kidding when they said "for dummies".......2005-04-28
I didn't find this book helpful at all. It just barely skims the surface, and usually concludes with "make sure you talk to your accountant/attorney/estate planner." If I intended to talk to all those folks, I wouldn't waste my time reading this book in the first place. Most of what this book covers could be learned by snooping around the web - and in many cases you can learn more that way. It defines the terminology, but even that is often inadequate. I suggest you check this book out from the local library, and then if you find it to be a useful resource go ahead and buy it. I wish I had done that - I don't feel this book has enough information to really qualify as a reference book.
Are we that dumb?.......2005-02-12
I thought the tone of this book was really patronizing (okay yeah I know it's for 'dummies' but does it need to keep reminding you of that fact constantly?). It's repetitive and ultimately tells you to consult an estate planner anyway--so forget using it to save money to plan your own estate. For a much more directly useful guide to estate planning (with forms you can fill out on a cd-rom), I highly recommend Quicken's Willmaker Plus. You get all the same information as in this book, plus more, and in a much less annoying style. And since it includes the forms for the key documents you need to prepare (e.g., simple will, durable power of attorney, etc.), you may be able to plan your own estate yourself (dummy or not).
Average customer rating:
- A Solid Effort!
- The Only Estate Planning Book You'll Ever Have To Buy!!!!
|
Staying Wealthy: Strategies for Protecting Your Assets
Brian H. Breuel
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Financial Planning
| Personal Finance
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Personal Finance
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Estate Planning
| Personal Finance
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0425172732
Release Date: 2000-02-07 |
Amazon.com
Congratulations. You've built a successful business, or earned a lot of money and invested it wisely, or skillfully managed the family business you inherited. Now it's time to figure out what to do with it all, as taking it with you isn't an option. Obviously, there's more to this task than retirement planning, which is complex enough for most people. How do you ensure that your money survives you, no matter how long you live, and ends up in the hands of those you want to have it, after you're gone? How do you keep estate taxes--which can take a 55 percent bite out of your wealth--to a minimum?
Staying Wealthy covers all contingencies, with sections on estate planning, long-term health care, business succession, investing, family issues, liability, charity, and, finally, a look at the all those problems as faced by the superwealthy. The chapter on estate planning alone is scary enough to make you read the entire book. It shows what happens if you die without a will--intestate--and explains that your assets will be divided up according to the laws of whatever state you happened to be living in at the time of your death. "It would be purely coincidental if the state's plan of distribution matched your own," writes Breuel, who goes on to note that it's not just society's poorest who shed their mortal coil without a will; Pablo Picasso and Abraham Lincoln both died intestate. Each section is richly detailed, with easy-to-understand charts and graphs, hypothetical case studies, and real examples drawn from news reports. The only thing more useful for the wealthy would be a book detailing how not to die, get divorced, or become incapacitated. Until someone figures that out, though, Staying Wealthy is the book that should be on the shelf of everyone who's earned a small fortune, or aspires to. --Lou Schuler
Book Description
From the Bloomberg Personal Bookshelf... selected by the Money Book Club and Eagle Book Club, this personal finance book from Bloomberg offers more than 100 strategies to help you minimize risks to your money, developed for the super rich, but useful for anyone who wants to preserve hard-won earnings.
"Brian Breuel's Staying Wealthy belongs at the elbow of anyone who wants to keep taxes low while building a family fortune.... After you've read it, give it to your children. Even better, give it to your parents. Your heirs will thank you."-- Landon Y. Jones,
Vice President of Strategic Planning, Time Inc., former Managing Editor, Money magazine
"Sound advice on how to enlarge and preserve your wealth no matter what your net worth is."-- William D. Zabel, Esq., author of The Rich Die Richer and You Can Too
"If you've ever worked hard to leave something to your children, don't give the government more than it deserves. Before you consult your lawyer and accountant, you need to read this book. It will open your eyes to some amazing possibilities."-- Kenneth L. Lay, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO, Enron Corp.
Customer Reviews:
A Solid Effort!.......2001-05-08
Brian H. Breuel gives detailed advice about estate planning, business succession, investing, and long-term care. He argues that many wealth-eroding pitfalls can be avoided with diligent planning and professional advice. He covers common problems, including dying without a will, outdated wills, and business succession. Keeping your business's value in your family's hands requires planning well in advance of your retirement or death. The well-organized advice here is detailed enough to be useful to sophisticated readers. We [...] recommend this book to anyone looking for detailed guidance about estate planning and business succession. [[...] note: The legal matters covered are based entirely on U.S. law.]
The Only Estate Planning Book You'll Ever Have To Buy!!!!.......1999-09-15
Brian takes you step-by-step through the most basic estate planning to the most intricate. This book should be in every household throughout America. A must read and an excellent book to refer back to from time to time. Well worth the $$$!!!
Book Description
A new, updated edition of the ultimate guide to trusts
Trusts are powerful and flexible financial planning tools, and this new edition of The Complete Book of Trusts covers everything you need to know to protect your hard-earned assets from taxes, creditors, and more. This updated Third Edition provides all the latest information on trusts, addressing recent changes due to economic growth and the Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 in such areas as transferring assets, distribution of income, gift and estate tax rules, and many others.
Along with in-depth examinations of sixty different types of trusts, this book also shows you how to:
- Set up a trust to manage assets in the event of disability or death
- Avoid probate
- Minimize or eliminate estate and other transfer taxes
- Financially protect loved ones
- And more
The Complete Book of Trusts, Third Edition is an invaluable resource for anyone with significant assets to protect.
Customer Reviews:
THE COMPLETE BOOK OF TRUSTS.......2007-08-06
IT WAS NEVER DELIVERED TO ME. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO REACH AMAZON, BUT THEY MAKE IT AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO FIND A CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER RE ALLEGED SHIPMENTS I NEVER RECEIVED.
An Excellent Primer on Trusts.......2006-09-29
Martin Shenkman has written an excellent primer on trusts. He helps the reader understand which assets should be transferred to a trust, what the legalities are, the limitations of trusts, and most importantly, how structuring trusts effectively can assist with saving taxes and assuring your family is taken care of in the manner you desire. Be advised, this is not a book that will help you write your own trusts. Shenkeman is clear that effective planning really requires coordination among the financial professionals that you trust--your attorney, CPA, financial planner, insurance broker etc. However, if you are thinking about setting up trusts and you read this book, you will be positioned to have an intelligent and productive conversation with your financial team members. You will be part of your team, part of the decision making process, and not a passive bystander to the planning that affects your life and the life of those you love.
I would also say that The Complete Book of Trusts, is a great book for any professional who is working in this area. His observations, insights and specific analysis make his book an excellent reference tool. It is definitely a book for your library.
James Lange, CPA/Attorney and author of Retire Secure! Pay Taxes Later: The Key to Making Your Money Last as Long as You Do
Great reference book for new practitioners!.......2004-11-12
I have only purchased this book tonight, yet not on Amazon.com. I actually went to Borders and paid full price. Reason being, I could not wait to get my hands on a reference book to help me conceptualize projects and cases that I presently deal with at work as a new estate and tax planning attorney. I hear about ABC trusts, GST trusts, Living Trusts, just to name a few, every day. Yet I don't have the slightest idea about the particular mechanics of many of these valuable estate planning and tax saving tools.
I have only begun to read this book, but so far it has impressed me with its clarity and simplicity in explaining the particulars of the different types of trusts available. It is great for someone like myself who is beginning to practice law in this area. Additionally, I would recommend this book to a law student interested in entering this field or one who is currently taking a trusts and estates course.
A word of caution, this is not a book to assist you with drafting your own trust. Although it is a good prep material with which to study up on before consulting with an attorney. In my short experience, clients with at least some knowledge of what is available to them benefit more from the time spent with lawyers and consultants who will actually draft their trusts and related documents.
I also recommend this book to people that are wary of attorneys and who are intimated by the complex jargon of the legal industry. The more one knows about what trusts are available and which may be more advantageous, the likelier they will feel confident in their estate planning documents.
Written in Legaleeze...got a better book for you.......2000-05-28
Read "Beyond the Grave, The Right Way and the Wrong Way of Leaving Money to Your Children" instead of this book or before you read this book. I bought both and gave up on this book after a couple chapters. It was a struggle to get through. Very dry, written like a tech manual, a real sleeper. Go read the reviews on Amazon for Condon's book before deciding which one to order. Trust me, you want the other book.
Excellent!!!.......1999-07-17
The Cmplete Book of Trusts is an excellent reference for general knowledge about a very cmplex subject! I highly recommend this book to anyone with a need to know. This author has managed to take the "legal" language and break it down into understandable English!
Book Description
Start planning for the future today.
Although a majority of Americans know they need a will, about 70% of them don't have one. In fact, the legalities involved are not very complicated and most people can get it done easily with this book. Estate planning is largely the same. In this revised and updated edition of Complete Idiot's Guide to Wills and Estates, readers will find a complete inventory of everything to be considered in creating wills and estate planning, vital information on trusts, taxes, and eldercare planning, and much more.
• All tax information revised and updated
• Sections on IRAs and Roth IRAs have been revised to reflect changes in the law
• Features online estate and financial planning sites
• Additional coverage of post-mortem estate planning
• Additional material on eldercare planning, such as living and support arrangements
Customer Reviews:
Crystal Clear, Easy to Read.......2006-07-14
My husand and I just wanted to put together a living will and health care directive and at this point just need something fairly simple. This book is easy to understand, yet comprehensive.
Very good book - wish it was my text for class.......2005-10-17
Have not had a chance to read cover to cover yet, but it looks very well written and organized so far, so that any normal person can absorb and understand. Wish this was the required text for my class. No doubt it will probably fill in the gaps that my real text missed, since this book seems more grounded in reality, than textbook theory. It may not help me on the test, thought I'm sure it will; but I'm sure it will help me in real life.
Very understandable over view of a complex subject!.......2001-09-04
As a development officer for a prep school, I was looking for a book that would give me a birds-eye view of issues involved with estate planning. Steve Mapleýs The Complete Idiotýs Guide to Wills and Estates does this masterfully. And, to my relief, in plain English. Impressive for an attorney thatýs taught and practiced for the over 25 years!
In very easy-to-read language, Maple thoroughly lays out the whole terrain of estate planningýfrom having a will to ways to save on current taxes and issues to consider in caring for aging parents. Going beyond mere explanation, heýs packed this book with helpful forms and lists to get the reader started in their own estate planning. I picked up this book to help me with my conversations with donors but I ended up sitting down with an attorney to work on my own plan!
Maple groups his 24 chapters into five sections:
Part 1: Assets, Assets, Assets
Part 2: About Wills, Trusts. . . and Probate
Part 3: All in the Familyýand Just a Little Beyond
Part 4: Taxes You Must Pay, and Those Maybe You Donýt
Part 5: Retirement, Elder Issues, and the Broad Planning Picture
The structure of The Complete Idiotýs Guide to Wills and Estates makes it a great book for busy professionals. Itýs very easy to read in short chunks of time. And itýs not just for the beginner. Although itýs now somewhat dated, Maple gives some pretty technical examinations of taxes and IRS regulations. For readers that way find themselves losing interest during the dryer technical sections there are tips, quotes, and anecdotal information interspersed throughout. As a development professional, I was particularly glad for Chapter 18 ýHow Charitable Donations Can Save You Money.ý Iým trying to figure out how I could make this chapter required reading for prospective donors.
More than any planned giving seminar Iýve attended, and for a lot less money, The Complete Idiotýs Guide to Wills and Estates has helped me see estate planning from the donorýs perspective. I highly recommend this book.
up to snuff.......2000-11-15
I'm a big fan of the idiot's guides since they are always clear and easy to follow. The authors do an excellent job of explaining complex terms and concepts so even an ordinary person can understand the reasons behind drafting a will. After reading this book, you'll see that you'll want to do everything you can so that you do not find yourself "intestate" -- then the state fights over what belongs to whom. Although it's difficult to think about dying, it's even worse to think about having all your money thrown to taxes or tied up in court as relatives fight. Prevent this ugly mess by learning the basics of wills and estates. I should add that this book goes well beyond the basics -- even a millionaire could learn a few good tips from this excellent book.
good to start out with.........2000-04-05
Excellent source of information for anyone who doesn't have a clue where to start. Easy to read and packed with hints. Motivating little scenarios to keep those of us who have been procrastinating in motion. Both my husband (who this was all new to) and myself (with a background in accounting) found it to be useful.
Book Description
Buying a home is an excellent investment, and more and more women are taking the plunge--with or without Mr. Right. Financial expert Vanessa Summers tells women how to do it-even if they have less-than-perfect credit or no extra cash for a down payment.
Readers will get the inside scoop on:
- Why a home is the best investment a single woman can make
- How even the credit-challenged can buy
- How much monthly mortgage they can afford on their salary
- How to find a great real estate agent and the best deals
- The art of "Trump-like" negotiation and closing the deal
Packed with practical, savvy advice, Buying Solo is the must-have guide for any woman who realizes that building equity and investing in herself isn't just smart, it's essential.
Customer Reviews:
Insulting title.......2007-07-25
I always find it "interesting" that certain topics feel the need to have "special instruction" for women.... i.e., "investing for women", "car repair for women", and now "buying a home for women". I guess women are more ignorant when it comes to these topics? They need to be spoken to differently? Buying a home is buying a home, and the issues are no different for men and women. SURE, maybe women are treated differently by brokers, mortgage lenders, etc., but then, if you have been a woman your whole life(!), you have probably already figured out how to handle yourself in the world. I feel books such as this one are just pandering and feeding into the whole idea that women are somehow more "fragile" and need to be spoken to like little children, and in simple, short phrases, so that their "delicate minds" don't overload. I find such a mentality insulting and ignorant, and just a cheap ploy by the authors to get certain susceptible women to buy their product.
Too many inaccuracies!!.......2007-07-22
As a Realtor looking at the information Summers provides, it seems that no one proof read what she wrote. There are typos throughout. And if the rest of it is as accurate as her section on using Realtors, wow! She says on p 113 that if the Jones have a house worth $100,000, they must sell it for $120,000 to pay the 6% commission. $20,000 is not 6% of $120,000! The commission is not $12,000 as she says. That's 10%. Furthermore, the house is worth what it's worth whether a real estate agent is involved or not. No money is added to the price to pay a commission. Yes, you can negotiate a commission, but it's not the buyer's concern since the buyer doesn't pay it. And if the home is for sale by owner, you can bet that the homeowner wants that phantom "commission" money for him or herself, and will not share it with the buyer.
I was thinking about using this book to educate my buyers who are mostly women first-time homebuyers. But the information is so wrong, it would be impossible to correct it. It's obvious that Ms Summers is a writer who gathered a lot of info and put it together, but has little day-to-day experience with the subject. If she thinks the commission is $12,000 and my share is $6000, I would very much like to sell her a house! (It's more like $2000 that goes to the agent.)
Undecided.......2007-05-17
I received this book recently and at first site I was disappointed. It looks poorly put together - the front cover looks like it is a photocopy of another and the pages seem to be of low quality.
However, the topics covered in the book seem to be good and I'm looking forward to diving into the book soon.
OK book.......2007-05-15
Some of the information is basic and repetitive from what others are saying but I found it slightly helpful for me. I am looking to purchase my 1st home solo soon....
Informational, but title does not suit content..........2006-08-27
Buying Solo was the first book I read on home-buying. There were helpful tables given to calculate morgtage payments and affordability factors, but nothing that you couldn't find online or in other books. I'm not sure how many books regarding this topic the other reviewers read, but I was surprised to see so many gave this book five stars.
I read this book from cover to cover and only recall one page that suggested this was a book for women to buy solo. I can sum it up for you in one sentence: Be confident, don't let the realtors break your spirit just because they have more faith in couples with twice the income.
Otherwise it's all the same material as all other home-buying books.
Book Description
Sometimes, despite careful planning and the best of intentions, life works out differently than expected. In Best Intentions, authors Colleen Barney and Victoria Collins examine the impact of estate planning and share stories and letters from and about real people. These are people who, despite careful planning, did not pass on to their loved ones what they had intended-their own special life lessons, messages and financial inheritance.
Most books on estate planning center on avoiding probate and paying less in taxes. For the first time ever, a noted financial planner (Collins) and a respected estate attorney (Barney) present a completely new look at a subject usually considered dry and technical, even morbid. They use letters and stories by and about children, parents, and others to focus on nontraditional estate planning concepts like passing on visions and ideals, values and morals, work ethic and guidance, and love.
Emphasizing people, their lives, and their desires and goals for future generations, the authors show readers how to:
*Understand their own family, social, emotional, and economic dynamics.
*Identify what is really important to them.
*Tailor uniquely personal estate plans.
*Explore alternatives to traditional estate planning concepts.
*Balance the financial and emotional aspects of estate planning.
Sooner or later, estate planning becomes an important aspect of every individual's life plan. Best Intentions enables readers to apply practical, topical, and timely recommendations to their own personal circumstances-whether their net worth is $10,000, $10,000,000, or more.
Customer Reviews:
Great estate planning ideas for women.......2007-07-02
Great estate planning ideas and stories to get you thinking about how you want to provide for your loved ones, so that as you do your estate planning you can also transmit your family values.
Best Intentions.......2007-01-10
This is a great book for anyone in the financial services industry or for those specializing in estate planning. These are real world cases that illuminate the need for proper planning by a qualified professional. This is also a great book if you are planning your own estate or you find yourself thrown into managing an estate for parents or loved ones. I can't say enough good things about this book or its authors.
Great approach to a difficult & complicated subject.......2006-05-12
I enjoyed the book, Best Intentions, and have given copies to several friends. It includes real-life examples that are easy to understand and addresses hard to face issues well. For those of us 'Baby Boomers' who do have the best of intentions for loved ones we will someday leave behind, it is a good way to start the dialogue and plans for the inevitable.
Interesting real stories.......2004-10-30
Using real stories, the author tried to tell you just a will may not be enough. You have to think, plan carefully before writing a will to make sure it is what you want to do with your leftover.
The stories show you a lot you never thought of. Worth reading for everyone.
Estate Planning Made Easy.......2003-05-18
An excellent book -- the best I've ever read on the subject. As a financial advisor I can't recommend it enough. Most find estate planning confusing. This book is not confusing. It's an easy read. Each simple, short, touching story illustrates a different problem that can arise by not doing good estate planning. It will make you think about your own situation with more clarity than was possible before. This book could be called Chicken Soup For Your Legacy.
Book Description
The complete guide for managing the financial, legal, and emotional issues of inheritances large and small.
A death in the family is never easy, but receiving an inheritance, whether expected or not, can leave heirs feeling overwhelmed and even guilty at this change in their fortunes. Ann Perry’s insightful examination of the challenges make managing a bequest a little easier.
Combining her practical know-how as a personal finance writer, the expertise of financial advisors, attorneys, and psychologists, and the wisdom gained from her personal inheritance experience, Perry deftly deals with such touchy subjects as selling the family homestead, divvying up property in “blended families,” parceling out heirlooms, dividing a family business, and sharing—or not sharing—an inheritance with a spouse.
With refreshing candor, Perry addresses the guilt, grief, and unrealistic fantasies that can keep heirs from making the most of their windfalls, and also explores the unique, even life-changing, opportunities that a bequest can present. An excellent tool for estate planning, as well, this is essential reading for those who are writing their wills as well as those who are remembered in one.
Download Description
The complete guide for managing the financial, legal, and emotional issues of inheritances large and small.
A death in the family is never easy, but receiving an inheritance, whether expected or not, can leave heirs feeling overwhelmed and even guilty at this change in their fortunes. Ann Perry's insightful examination of the challenges make managing a bequest a little easier.
Combining her practical know-how as a personal finance writer, the expertise of financial advisors, attorneys, and psychologists, and the wisdom gained from her personal inheritance experience, Perry deftly deals with such touchy subjects as selling the family homestead, divvying up property in "blended families," parceling out heirlooms, dividing a family business, and sharing -- or not sharing -- an inheritance with a spouse.
With refreshing candor, Perry addresses the guilt, grief, and unrealistic fantasies that can keep heirs from making the most of their windfalls, and also explores the unique, even life-changing, opportunities that a bequest can present. An excellent tool for estate planning, as well, this is essential reading for those who are writing their wills as well as those who are remembered in one.
Customer Reviews:
book review.......2007-10-08
This is an outstanding book! Great for those who inherit any amount of money.
Good All Around .......2004-09-15
Ann's book does a nice job of touching on a full range of emotions and feelings. The book wasn't heavy on specific advice, just all around good ideas that everyone should acknowledge when receiving an inheritance. It is a pretty light read with good examples and stories for anyone reading the book. I purchased copies for other members of my family to help them with our recent situation.
a complete approach for inheritors.......2003-08-19
Ms. Perry (the GO FISH heiress) has written a book that covers both the emotional and the financial sides of getting an inheritance. I found her advise on both sides to be sensitive and helpful. I recommend reading this book before giving or coming into an inheritance.
This is a great book!.......2003-06-25
This book was wonderful. My father died 10 months ago and I just read this book. I wish I had found it earlier. The subjects discussed in this book are hard to share with others. Finally I realized there were others out there that felt as I have. I am going to be purchasing copies of this book to give to my attourney, the funeral director and my appraisor. My hope is that they will give them away to someone who is just starting to go through this processes. If you are an inheritor you need this book! It is also good for anyone to know information about estate planning.
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