Category: Wisdoms

  • The Legacy Relay

    Watching a running relay race is exciting. Running together at full speed and passing the baton to a teammate is thrilling to watch. I would ask you to consider that your estate plan is your relay. The definition of the word relay is “a series of persons relieving one another.” Your baton is your legacy…

  • First Things First

    You may have heard the old joke, “where there’s a will… I want to be in it.” That may be true, but effective estate planning covers much more than just “who gets my stuff.” When you sift through your own reasons for doing estate planning, you may find that naming who gets your stuff takes…

  • Who You Gonna Call? Scambusters!

    With Thanksgiving approaching, we are reminded to be appreciative of what we have; oftentimes, this leads to opening up our hearts (and wallets) to those in need. Unfortunately, there are those who would use dishonesty to profit from a giving heart. Earlier this year the Federal Trade Commission and Attorneys General of 50 states prosecuted…

  • Profiting From a Giving Heart

    With Thanksgiving approaching, we are reminded to be appreciative of what we have; oftentimes, this leads to opening up our hearts (and wallets) to those in need. Unfortunately, there are those who would use dishonesty to profit from a giving heart. Earlier this year the Federal Trade Commission and Attorneys General of 50 states prosecuted and…

  • Take a Day to Organize Your Finances

    If you’re like most people, you periodically set aside time to clean out your home, garage or closets. It’s equally important to organize your finances. This checklist can help you get started: Cancel unused credit cards: Don’t throw away money on annual fees for credit cards you don’t use. First, cash in any rewards points…

  • The Most Important Document

    The one estate planning document that everyone 18 and older should have is an Advance Health-Care Directive. It is not the sexiest tool in the estate planning toolbox, but it can head off family strife, heartache, and needless attorney’s fees as no other document can. Karen Ann Quinlan, Nancy Cruzan, and Terri Schiavo. Sound familiar?…

  • Save Crucial Time: Register for Smart911

    The Honolulu Police Department recently rolled out Smart911™, a free 9-1-1 service available to residents of O‘ahu. Registration is free at www.Smart911.com. Smart911 allows you to file information with 911 — about your disability, medications you take or how to gain emergency access to your home, if you are unable to answer the door. When…

  • Smart Ideas for Year-End Benefits

    With the end of the year just around the corner, you may want to review your financial situation. Make a list to ensure that you take full advantage of all available tax-saving deductions. Here are some ideas for year-end planning that can benefit you and help support your favorite charity too. Charitable Contributions — A…

  • Start with Why

    Lately, I’ve had questions from beneficiaries of trusts asking “why did the decedent make the trust distribution a certain way?” The trust clearly identified who the beneficiaries were, and what they were to receive and how they were to receive it. Unfortunately the trust was silent as to “why” — the underlying reason and purpose…

  • Stretch Your Vacation Dollars

    Summer vacations are perfect for hitting the road for adventure or staying close to home to simply recharge. The slower pace and rest a vacation offers are priceless, but you can still practice financial vigilance. Here’s how to get the most for your money as you travel this summer. Consider Off-Season Tropical Destinations During the…

  • Keeping Peace in the Family

    On May 27, 2015, Reuters reported that a Georgia judge had appointed a mediator to help the family of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. decide whether to sell Dr. King’s Nobel Peace Prize and his personal Bible. Dr. King carried this Bible during the historic marches and rallies of the ’60’s, and President…

  • Who You Gonna Call? Scambusters!

    In the movie Ghostbusters, when someone needed help with anything paranormal (ghosts, demons … or maybe even night marchers), there was only one number to call — Ghostbusters! Unfortunately, when a person suspects fraud or financial scams going on, there are a variety of agencies that handle different aspects of this dishonest behavior. As we…