Estate Planning | Willow Creek Wealth Management

Outsmart the Certainty of Death and Taxes: Make a Will

August 31, 2022 Willow Creek Wealth Management

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 […]

Financial Landmine Series: 12 Mistakes to Avoid

November 5, 2021 Willow Creek Wealth Management

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 […]

Reverse Mortgages Can be a Retirement Tool — With Caution

May 26, 2021 Heather Belli

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 […]

Six Financial Steps When There’s a Family Death

May 25, 2021 Mark Keating

No one can fully prepare for the death of a spouse, close family member, or dear friend. But the less we know and the less we are prepared, the more complicated dealing with financial issues that arise after a death can become. This is a subject no one wants to read about. So do me […]

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

May 18, 2021 Willow Creek Wealth Management

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 […]

Have a Plan for Aging Family Members’ Finances

May 13, 2021 David Lawrence

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 […]

Seven Steps to Build a Successful Estate Plan

May 12, 2021 Willow Creek Wealth Management

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 […]

Estate Planning for Your Digital Life

May 5, 2021 Mark Keating

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 […]

Estate Planning: the Best Gift to Leave Behind

May 4, 2021 Heather Belli

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 […]

Tag: Estate Planning