Michelle T. Thompson, Esq., CFP®, CTFA, CDFA®, Author at Atlanta Financial Associates, LLC

Legacies: The DOs and DON’Ts of Receiving an Inheritance

July 28, 2020

Losing a loved one is very disorienting. If an inheritance is associated with the love one’s passing, that gift can cause a host of emotions, conflicts and decisions. Whether you knew about the inheritance or not, it can be overwhelming to receive a lump sum of money or property. I know this from both personal and professional experience. With experience comes insights, and I would like to share these insights with you as a “dos and don’ts” list.

Exercise & The COVID-19 Outbreak

May 11, 2020

As most everyone can attest, things are different right now! Dining out hasn’t been an option until recently, seeing a movie in a theater seems risky, and going to the gym seems wrought with potential coronavirus exposure. For those of us who enjoy exercising, we’ve had to change our routines to adhere to “stay at home” orders and social/physical distancing. We’ve needed unique ways to maintain our exercise regimen. Thankfully, there are great alternatives to a public gym and I’d like to share a few of those options with you. The first exercise alternative is an “old-school” option that is tried and true!

Can I Just Leave Everything To My Dog?

February 25, 2020

Not that long ago, arrangements for pets were not even considered when creating an estate plan. Nowadays, however, a high percentage of wills and trusts include provisions for the continual care of animals.

4 Estate Planning Tips When You Have Young Children

October 14, 2019

1. Write a Will
For most young parents, writing a will is less about distributing assets and more about naming a guardian for their children. The guardian named in your Will is the person that would take care of your children if you and the other parent were unable to do so. This situation is very unlikely, but worth addressing just in case.

If your children ever needed a guardian, the local Probate Court would appoint the person designated in your Will, absent a serious problem with that person. You can name different guardians for different children if you wish. If you do not have a Will with a Guardianship Designation, or if you haven’t made your wishes in the Will clear, the Probate Court would have to select a guardian for your children without any guidance from you. The most common choice is a family member. But what if you really wouldn’t want a certain family member to raise your children? Or what if you preferred that a close friend step in as guardian? The Court would have no way of knowing your wishes.

Benefits of Professional Trustees

October 1, 2019

What is a professional trustee?

When you set up a trust, you must name a trustee to manage and administer the assets in your trust. Generally, professional trustees are experienced individuals that work in a trust department in a bank or in a trust company.

Do you need a professional trustee?

In determining whether you need a professional trustee, consider the following…

Using P.O.D. and T.O.D to Avoid Probate

June 12, 2019

Like any court system in America, Probate Court is a slow and sometimes complicated process that can delay estate distributions for months, and in extreme cases, years. While Georgia’s probate system is simpler than many across the US, probating a Will can also be expensive, with the filing fees, administration fees, and other court costs. And since it’s a public process, anyone can obtain a copy of another person’s Will. With certain assets, you can easily avoid probate and have the asset(s) transfer directly to the person you choose. Typically, these assets are generally accounts deemed “payable-on-death (POD)” or “transferrable-on-death (TOD).” The terms essentially mean the same thing but apply to slightly different accounts.

Author: Michelle T. Thompson, Esq., CFP®, CTFA, CDFA®