Spring Into the Market — And Get Ahead of the Curve
🌸A Note from ShariThere’s something about spring that just clicks for me. The days get longer, the energy shifts, and suddenly everyone is ready to move — literally and figuratively. After a winter of planning, dreaming, and “maybe next year” conversations, spring is when things happen. And honestly? That’s my favorite time to be a […]
The New York Estate Tax Cliff: What You Should Know
Estate tax. In the simplest of terms, it’s a federal tax on the transfer of the estate of a person who dies. New York has its own estate tax, separate from the federal estate tax, which is an additional tax on top, with an exemption of $7.16 million in 2025. While it seems straightforward, one […]
Does Your Family Know Where To Find Documents In Your Home?
Shoeboxes full of paperwork, folders in a bin in the attic, a cedar chest in the basement filled with documents. Can you imagine trying to go through your loved ones home if they pass to make sure you have the needed access to their accounts? It would be a nightmare if you didn’t know where […]
A Living Will Brings Peace of Mind
My father in law recently passed away after a short stay in the hospital. He was 88 and lived a long life. But, he never wanted to have those important (and tough) discussions about getting near the end of life and planning for a burial, creating a will, choosing advanced directives, etc. When asking my […]
Estate Planning Tips to Avoid, or Simplify, Probate in New York State
You’ve probably heard some horror stories about how long it takes someone to be appointed the fiduciary of an estate. It’s true. Probate can be stressful and time consuming at the least. We’ve seen some estates take years before someone gets appointed as the fiduciary (this is not typical, it shouldn’t take more than a […]
Don’t Let Your Estate Plan Become A Nightmare
After decades of working in estate planning, I can really say I have seen it all. This blog is all about unintended consequences. These general scenarios might help you understand why having the right estate plan in place is so important for peace of mind, protecting your family and avoiding future conflict. Often everything starts with good […]
Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts in New York State
It’s been a while since we’ve touched on the basics of trusts and some people have been asking for a basic primer on the different types of trusts and what would be the best use of a trust for their specific situations.
Why Every Long Island College Student Needs a Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney
When your child turns 18, they are legally considered an adult. This exciting milestone comes with new freedoms, but also important legal changes many parents don’t realize until it’s too late. Under HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), parents lose automatic access to their adult child’s medical records. And once your child is no longer […]
Getting to the Heart of the Matter, A Personal Family Story: Transitions and Timing
There is an Eagles song that starts off with, “I got the call today, I didn’t want to hear, but I knew that it would come.” While that song refers to lost love, the first sentence always makes me think of other bad news that you know will come eventually, and that happened to me a […]
Which Business Entity is Right For You: Sole Proprietorship, LLC, S Corp, and More
If you’re wondering how to choose a business structure, we work with clients in New York to build and grow businesses entities, whether they are in the brick-and-mortar space or offer services online.