When it comes to investing in annuities, there is a lot to think about. What can you expect to get out? What ruses should you look out for? Would a bond be a better idea? The good thing about a bond is that it does not have the rooted costs that annuities do. But that is no reason to choose a bond over an annuity. Bonds typically generate low returns unless they are long-term. It is the long-term bonds that are comparable to annuities. Keep in mind, however, that for this to be true, interest rates must remain steady. If

When people think of investing, the traditional things that come to mind are the big three: stocks, bonds, and cash. However, with the rise of alternative investing assets, such as real estate, people are changing the way they think about investing. In 1975, only the big three were accepted as asset classes but that has changed considerably. Today, the U.S. apportions 10 percent of investment funds to real estate and 10 percent in other alternative investment classes, both of which have surpassed the 5 percent allocated to cash investments. How did real estate become such a prominent investment class? Alternative

Nobody likes to think about the end of their life, but it is inescapable and should be planned for accordingly. When devising your trust, here are some key things to avoid: Trusting the state to take charge Having a will is not enough. A will can designate who should receive what after your death but it is subject to the public probate process. You can avoid probate with a revocable trust. This will secure your privacy and that of your beneficiaries. The probate process in most jurisdictions is not as costly nor as onerous as some would have you believe.

Estate planning cannot be carried out by only one person. An attorney is great, but he might not know all the tax laws that go into estate planning. Therefore, a CPA is needed. But then your insurance policies might not be accounted for, so you need your insurance agent involved. The list goes on, and many different people are invited into the estate planning process. Before you know it, there are a multitude of people all working to provide guidance for you. With each person bringing a different element to the table, keeping everyone in conjunction is crucial for smooth

An experienced estate planning attorney can help you avoid alienating family members when you’re not giving the same thing to each person. The attorney should also help you choose a trustee. The trustee needs to be someone who lives close by which may not be the person who is closest to you in relationship. The right attorney will help you work through the family relationships, which matter more than the money and assets. Because of this, choosing the right attorney is important but it is not always easy. You want to look for someone who cares about building a relationship