Archive for January 2026

This February 1, states across America observe National Unclaimed Property Day, chosen to remind you about a surprisingly widespread financial problem: billions of dollars in forgotten assets currently held by state governments, waiting for their rightful owners to claim them. This observance exists for one practical reason: to help you reclaim money and assets that…

Your mom told you not to worry; she had everything handled. You were already her power of attorney. You were already helping her pay bills and manage her accounts. When she passed away, you assumed you’d simply continue handling things the same way. You tried to deposit the insurance check. The bank clerk looked at…

You open the door to your parents’ home for the first time since the funeral and find—closets stuffed with decades of clothes; cabinets filled with china no one uses; a garage packed with tools, holiday decorations, and boxes labeled “miscellaneous;” and drawers overflowing with papers, keepsakes, and items whose significance you’ll never understand. The task…

When you begin thinking about estate planning, one of the first questions you might ask is whether you need a will, a trust, or both. You may have heard conflicting information from friends, social media, or TV experts, which can make the decision feel confusing. And while both wills and trusts can play an important…