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In our work with family estates, we often hear concerns, expressed either directly or indirectly, about the commitment of “the kids” to charitable and philanthropic goals that are important to our clients. Typically, these are folks who have done well, and giving back to others is a core value for them.

Now that the final rush is on for holiday shoppers and our credit and debit cards are getting their stiffest workout of the year, it might seem an odd time to think about savings strategies. But for those approaching retirement, there’s really no bad season to start strategizing ways to stretch those post-retirement budget dollars as far as possible.

Most of us, when we need advice, try to find the most knowledgeable and experienced person possible. If our car needs repair, we want a mechanic who has fixed hundreds of cars.

Our clients are accustomed to hearing us remind them of the importance of estate planning: having properly designed wills or trusts; keeping their beneficiary designations up to date; periodically reviewing all estate planning documents to be sure they remain current; and everything else that goes along with having and maintaining a solid estate plan. Tags:

• Estate Planning
• Wealth Transfer

The self-made Super Rich—people with a net worth of at least $500 million that they built through their own hard work—often possess a treasure trove of knowledge, insights and actionable strategies that the rest of us can adopt in our own lives to enhance our success.

In our work with family stewards, some of the most ticklish questions come up around the topic of governance.

Readers of this column have often seen us explain in various ways how difficult it is for any investor to time the market—“buy low and sell high”—on any kind of consistent basis. In fact, we typically warn investors of the long-term dangers to portfolio performance of making any serious investment decision on the basis of market timing.

A friend of mine tells the story of his brother-in-law, who worked at Wal-Mart Store #7, which opened when the current retail giant was still a small regional discount store that few had ever heard of.

In Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries, the beginning of November marks the Dia de los Muertos, “the Day of the Dead.” This is a time when families remember their departed loved ones at special church services, by decorating their gravesites, by singing and telling stories, and with special foods and other observations.

Life insurance can be an extremely important, even essential, part of your financial plan. One of its most attractive aspects for many individuals and families is the death benefit of the policy—the money that the insurance company pays out in the event of the insured’s death.