Food for Thought

March 5, 2020

Suggestions for Senior Dilemmas

Here's a scenario to consider: Your dyed-in-the-wool New England Yankee parent or grandparent is still living alone in the old Cape or Colonial they've been in...

February 6, 2020

SECURE in the Knowledge

No matter where you are this winter, you'll eventually need to know at least the high points of the new SECURE Act of 2019, much of which became effective on Ja...

December 19, 2019

Holiday Semi-Legal Offerings

Sometimes what I offer you is densely legal, but this time it's less so and based more on my experience with human relations this time of year. Specifically, I...

November 22, 2019

From One State to Another

A recent trip got me thinking about what happens when something goes wrong in another jurisdiction. So let's say you're all up to date with New Hampshire powers...

June 5, 2019

What to Do with Those Documents

**This time around I'm going to assume you've fully executed all those planning documents I harp on - you have, right? - and talk instead about what to do with...

April 24, 2019

It's Never Too Early to Plan Ahead by Phil Runyon

It's Never Too Early to Plan Ahead It occurred to me that most of what I say in these pieces is directed toward my contemporaries rather than our children and g...

Estate Planning

February 28, 2019

Gist and Estate Taxes Untangled by Phil Runyon

Gift and Estate Taxes Untangled This time I want to shed some sunlight on how gift and estate taxes work. I spend a lot of time dispelling rumors about them tha...

July 31, 2018

Know Your Family Responsibilities by Phil Runyon

Know Your Family Responsibilities This time I thought you might like to know a little about what you're getting into when you sign a hospital or nursing home fo...

March 15, 2018

A Modest Proposal by Phil Runyon

A Modest Proposal Many of you have already taken the suggestion to convey your assets to revocable trusts to help your family avoid the winter (spring, summer a...

October 12, 2017

LTC and TLC Considerations by Phil Runyon

LTC and TLC Considerations It turns out that most people aren't as worried about climate change or whether Twitter will go to 280 characters as they are about s...

Miscellany

July 11, 2017

EnABLEd Accounts by Phil Runyon

EnABLEd Accounts We've probably all at least heard about so-called "special needs trusts", even if we've never met one in person. They're intended to provide su...

October 31, 2016

Ask the Right Questions by Phil Runyon

Ask the Right Questions Most of us won't ever run for public office, but that doesn't mean we don't engage in important public service. I venture to say that ev...

Miscellany