Timeless Estate Planning

I'm not big into New Year's Resolutions, but I *am* big into identifying positive changes I want to make in my life, setting goals, and committing to taking steps to get there. I asked a few friends what books they had found that really helped them in setting and achieving goals. The responses ranged all over the map -- here are the highlights: ** Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself by Melody Beattie... ** The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown ** Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear ** Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals by Michael Hyatt ** Get Your Sh*t Together: How to Stop Worrying About What You Should Do So You Can Finish What You Need to Do and Start Doing What You Want to Do by Sarah Knight ** Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kond ** Loving My Actual Life: An Experiment in Relishing What's Right in Front of Me by Alexandra Kuykendall ** Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide by Caroline Adams Miller and Dr. Michael B. Frisch ** Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist ** Breaking Free from Emotional Eating by Geneen Roth ** Think Small: The Surprisingly Simple Ways to Reach Big Goals by Owain Service and Rory Gallagher Sometimes reading or listening to a motivational book is a great first step towards getting your life in order and getting ready to make some incremental changes for good. Maybe it's time to pick one and just get started? ~ Laura #motivation #goalsetting #incrementalchange #letsgetitstarted #jumpstart #motivationalreading #timelessestateplanning

As easy as it is to hit snooze and roll back over to get a few extra zzzz's, a morning routine is a fantastic way to set yourself up for success each day. https://startupanz.com/develop-morning-habit-sally-wu-goal/

While ringing in the new year did not substantially change the world in which we currently find ourselves, it does bring with it a fresh energy, that sense of new beginnings, and the reminder that there's the blank slate of a year ahead of us to do with what we will. For a lot of folks, 2020 was just a year to survive. And change is slow, and it remains to be seen what will happen to us collectively this year. But we do have control over how we approach this new year -- we k...now now it's a marathon, not a sprint. What can we do differently this year that turns 2021 into a better year, one where we might even thrive instead of just survive? What things did you put off last year that really need to be attended to this year? You might not be ready to dive all the way in just yet and do all. the. things. But it's time to make a plan for a better year this year. ~ Laura #newyear #makethisabetteryear #babysteps #thrivingnotjustsurviving #timelessestateplanning See more

Yes! Not just for older adults -- the diagram we include at the front of all of our estate plans really helps make it all clear. https://www.nytimes.com//need-help-with-your-estate-plan-g

"At the time of his death, Hsieh was worth an estimated $840 million, but in spite of his immense wealth, it seems he did not have a will. While it’s not uncommon for the rich and famous to die without a will, and many iconic figuresPrince, Aretha Franklin, and most recently, Chadwick Bosemanalso died without creating this basic planning document, Hsieh’s case is particularly puzzling given his altruistic nature. Hsieh was renowned for his kindness, generosity, and always putting others first, yet by dying without a will, he left his loved ones a colossal mess to clean up. Indeed, it will likely take his family many months just to account for all of his assets, and it’s likely they will overlookand may even never findsome of those assets." https://timelessestateplanning.com/former-zappos-ceo-tony-/

No matter who you vote for on November 3rd, you may want to start considering the potential legal, financial, and tax impacts a change of leadership might have on your family’s planning. As you’ll learn here, there are a number of reasons why you may want to start strategizing now if you could be impacted, because if you wait until after the election, it could be too late. Part 2 now up on the blog... https://timelessestateplanning.com/start-planning-now-to-p/

100 years ago, women began to have the right to vote in this country. Perhaps because it was a right that had to be fought for, it is one that I take very seriously. This week, I got the opportunity to bring my two littlest with me to the ballot box, showing them the importance of using your vote as your voice. One could spend a lot of time picking apart how politics works in our country, pointing out the flaws (and even pointing fingers), but voting still remains the number ...one way the average citizen can affect change. Many Californians are voting by mail or by ballot box this year, but the polls are still open on Tuesday! Did you know, you can even register to vote right up through election day if need be? If you're curious about the ways to vote in California left to you at this stage of the election season, visit https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-info/ways-vote to learn more. ~ Laura #vote #vote2020 #bringyourkids #itsnevertooyoung #timelessestateplanning

Yes yes yes! "Estate plans combine three elements: learning from the past, adapting to the present and anticipating the future. The document generators codify learning from the past through their processes and procedures. A Power of Attorney Holder or a Personal Representative adapts to the present. Only planning, with the help of a professional advisor, anticipates the future." https://www.forbes.com//why-estate-planning-is-worth-eve/

Tuesday at 8pm and Wednesday at 2pm! Register now at https://timelessestateplanning.com/webinar/. Do you have an updated will, trust, and all the legal documents and the true understanding necessary to keep your family out of court, and out of conflict, in the event something happens to you? Unfortunately, many plans fail when the family needs them most, and it’s too late. This could be a catastrophe for the people you love.... Join me for my FREE TRAINING on wills, trusts, and why estate planning is ever more important now, even if you aren’t feeling particularly rich at the moment -- the truth is that having your wills and trusts in order is vital right now, especially if you aren’t rich enough to absorb the cost of court and to answer your questions about how to protect your loved ones if anything were to happen to you. #webinar #freewebinar #familyestateplanning #atoz #timelessestateplanning

Imagine you die and your child with down syndrome is devastated and confused. She likes her routine and now she is with a stranger who makes spaghetti for dinner and your child hates spaghetti. This is a mild example, but when it comes to medications that do not work it could be a much worse experience. says Kopka. As with any sort of estate planning, most of us prefer not to picture the world moving on without us in it. The work gets delayed far longer than it should. With... a child with special needs relying on you, it’s even more critical that you put in place support for the child in the event of your death. A well-drafted estate plan, using a special needs trust, will provide your child with the resources necessary to maintain as much normalcy as possible as they adjust to life without you in it. https://www.forbes.com//life-insuran/special-needs-trusts/

Our team at Law Office of Laura Croft - Timeless Estate Planning is excited to announce we have moved into a new office in Burlingame! With a dedicated conference room, storage space, parking garage beneath the building, and even a private courtyard all to ourselves, it is welcome change of pace. You can find us at 20 Park Road, Suite D, Burlingame, CA 94010. You may see our old address in a few places as we work furiously behind the scenes to get everything updated and unpacked without missing a beat, but we look forward to (one day) welcoming you to our lovely new office. ~ Laura #newoffice #wevemoved #burlingamesmallbusiness #timelessestateplanning

No matter who you are voting for on November 3rd, you may want to start considering the potential legal, financial, and tax impacts a change of leadership might have on your family’s planning. And as you’ll learn here, there are a number of reasons why you should start strategizing now, because if you wait until after the election, it will very likely be too late. Part 1 is now up on the blog... https://timelessestateplanning.com/start-planning-now-to-p/

#fingerprints #theliveswetouch #thethingsweleavebehind #legacy #familyestateplanning #timelessestateplanning

Are you ready in the event of an earthquake? I know, especially if you're a native Californian, earthquakes are just something you live with, and don't necessarily prepare for. But with the 41st anniversary of Loma Prieta coming up in a couple of days, I find myself wanting to make sure we've got bottled water and batteries on hand at the very least. Unless you're a new arrival in California, you probably know the drill. Make sure you've got non-perishable food and water for ...a few days, flashlights with batteries, and first aid supplies. A full list of suggested supplies and preparations can be found on a variety of websites, including https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes. Getting prepared for a natural disaster that may never strike isn't exactly a party, but 2020 seems to be throwing curve balls left and right. Much like making sure you've got your estate plan in place, updating your earthquake kit may give you a little extra peace of mind during these uncertain times. #earthquakepreparedness #lomaprieta #lomaprietaanniversary #planahead #timelessestateplanning

An interesting read, especially if you're attempting to balance work and parenting right now! "Clearly the pandemic has impacted all of our lives, but the lives of children have been disrupted through home confinement, school closures, limited social interactions, and reduced access to playgrounds and the like. In addition to the disappointment of not being able to have the planned birthday party or not seeing a new classroom on the first day of school, the uncertainty brough...t on by the pandemic threatens the routines and structures which help support children’s emotional security. This body of research would suggest that we’re likely to see changes in the ways in which children react to their environment. Things that seem small and may not have triggered an intense emotional reaction in the past may do so now. Parents may also see changes in how children attempt to regulate their exposure to conflict and uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Children may become more avoidant or distant, or parents may see children attempting to take on more personal responsibility for alleviating the stress and difficulties now apparent in most homes." https://www.futurity.org/parents-pandemic-covid-19-2439312/

"In the end, your responsibility as a trustee will vary greatly depending on the size of the estate, the type of assets covered by the trust, the type of trust, how many beneficiaries there are, and the document’s terms. In light of this, you should carefully review the specifics of the trust you would be managing before making your decision to serve." https://timelessestateplanning.com/what-you-should-know-be/

You would do anything for your family -- but what happens if something should happen to you? Laura has a free webinar this week -- Tuesday 10/14 @ 8pm and Wednesday 10/15 @ 2pm -- to give you all the tools you need for choosing the right guardians for your children. Register now! https://timelessestateplanning.com/upcoming-events/... #namingguardians #shorttermguardians #longtermguardians #takingcareofyourfamily #planahead #familyestateplanning #timelessestateplanning

"Although you may have just filed your 2019 income taxes in July, now is the time to start thinking about your 2020 return due next April. While it’s always a good idea to be proactive when it comes to tax planning, it’s particularly important this year. In addition to annual updates for inflation, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides individual taxpayers with several new tax breaks, most of which will only be available this year. The sooner you learn about the different forms of tax-savings available, the more time you will have to take advantage of them." https://timelessestateplanning.com/6-changes-to-watch-for-/