Alhambra's Bob Williams offers tips on being the executor of an estate.
“What in the world does that mean?”  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked that question during almost 30 years in the financial industry. Clients naming beneficiaries on IRAs, 401(k) accounts, annuities, or insurance policies stop dead-in-their-tracks when asked to decide whether they want beneficiaries to...
There’s an old axiom that says nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. True enough. But there’s one other thing that’s certain; we’re all going to retire—sometime. The number one retirement question I’m asked is, “What is the perfect age to retire?” Close on its heels is,...
A loved one has died and you’re in charge of settling the estate. There’s a long checklist of things that need to be done, from notifying Social Security to probate to disposition of assets. One other item on that list is filing the final tax return for the deceased. The...
How many times have you seen articles reminding you how important it is to have a power of attorney (POA) document in place, just in case something happens, like an accident of some kind, that leaves you unable to care for yourself or make your own decisions. This is...
Alhambra's Bob Williams tells you whether you are automatically enrolled in Medicare when you reach age 65.
Someone trusts you so much that they name you to settle their estate after they die. You’re honored they have that much confidence in you, but you don’t think much about what’s involved in settling an estate. Among the long list of items you have to deal with is settling...
Alhambra's Bob Williams describes Social Security Breakeven Age and how it can help determine when to begin receiving your Social Security benefit.
You don’t have to watch television very long to realize just how many types of insurance there are. In the right situation insurance is a great tool to protect you against different types of risk that can devastate you financially.   It’s a good idea to review your insurance coverage regularly...
Estate planning, like most other things, uses a vast array of tools to accomplish its goal. One of the tools is a trust. But there are more trusts, as the old farmer said, than you can shake a stick at—revocable, irrevocable, living, testamentary, charitable remainder, qualified domestic, special needs,...