Outsmart the Certainty of Death and Taxes: Make a Will

Originally published in North Bay Business Journal Typically, I shy away from the “National this-or-that” Days that make the rounds on social media. Still, one of those recently captured my attention: August has apparently been named National Make-a-Will Month and given my work and experience as a Wealth Advisor, this is a cause I can […]

Read More… from Outsmart the Certainty of Death and Taxes: Make a Will

Financial Landmine Series: 12 Mistakes to Avoid

Willow Creek Founder and Chairman of the Board Bruce Dzieza has more than three decades of experience working with clients to help them reach their financial goals. Here are his top 12 landmines to avoid in your financial planning process: Listening to and acting on cocktail party chatter Putting too much faith in financial news […]

Read More… from Financial Landmine Series: 12 Mistakes to Avoid

Reverse Mortgages Can be a Retirement Tool — With Caution

You’ve saved. You’ve invested. You’ve worked hard. But somehow, you fear there won’t be quite enough income to live on comfortably when you retire. What else can you do? Though we would only recommend this option under very specific circumstances, a reverse mortgage is a planning tool that can enable you to borrow against your […]

Read More… from Reverse Mortgages Can be a Retirement Tool — With Caution

Not-So-Powerful Powers of Attorney: What You Need to Know

Everybody should have a power of attorney—that is, a legal document that gives a designated individual the right to act on their behalf when making financial decisions. The power of attorney is most often used by adult children to make decisions on behalf of aging parents when they are no longer capable of making sound […]

Read More… from Not-So-Powerful Powers of Attorney: What You Need to Know

Have a Plan for Aging Family Members’ Finances

We all know that aging can bring its challenges — and one of the more difficult aspects is that it can eventually reduce our ability to manage money and make sound financial decisions. Experiments show that our reasoning skills drop steadily after peaking at age 53. Add to that dementia, which affects about 1 percent […]

Read More… from Have a Plan for Aging Family Members’ Finances

Seven Steps to Build a Successful Estate Plan

Over 50% of our adult population does not have a current or up-to-date estate plan to protect themselves and their family’s assets; that’s half of your family, friends, and associates. Estate planning is a financial process that can protect you and your family and is a very important component of your overall financial planning. Now […]

Read More… from Seven Steps to Build a Successful Estate Plan

Estate Planning for Your Digital Life

With so much of our financial and personal information now online, estate plans must address the fact that our digital selves will outlast our human selves. Loved ones left with the unpleasant task of navigating and penetrating the digital maze can inherit a complicated puzzle. Your online banking account, email accounts, Facebook page, and even […]

Read More… from Estate Planning for Your Digital Life

Estate Planning: the Best Gift to Leave Behind

A few years ago, the passing of the “Queen of Soul” arrived with some surprising news. With an estimated $80 million estate, Aretha Franklin died without a will or a trust. Her four sons have recently reached an agreement with the IRS over a $7.8 million tax debt, which should move them closer to receiving […]

Read More… from Estate Planning: the Best Gift to Leave Behind