Estate Planning: How to Tackle This Vital Part of Your Personal Finances

Estate planning should be part of everyone's financial goals for a secure future. No matter a person's income level, outstanding debt, or family status, an estate plan will determine the disposition of a person's assets at the time of their death. Here are some key points to keep in mind.

Consult An Attorney

An estate planning attorney, or one that specializes in wills and trusts, can help you go over your financial affairs and plan for the future once you are gone. Whatever you own at the time of your death must be disposed of in some manner. Normally the assets will go to the family members or friends who are named heirs, but that is up to you to decide. It is better for an individual to make this decision beforehand than to let the court make decisions after the person passes away.

Appointing an attorney to act as executor of your will is an excellent way to ensure your intent for the division of your estate is carried out in an impartial, accurate manner. Doing this removes a lot of potential stress from your family members down the road and can spare a lot of hurt feelings, misunderstandings and even legal disputes. 

Take Stock of Your Assets

In preparation for writing your will and making an estate plan, it is a good idea to make a comprehensive list of all your current and anticipated assets, or belongings. These include property, bank accounts, furnishings, personal effects, vehicles, stocks and investments, and cash, among other things. The list should include the current or future holder's or institution's name. For example, indicate that your father has promised to give you an antique vehicle if he predeceases you—it’s always better to put anything you want to be legally binding in writing. 

Summarize Your Debts

Similar to listing assets, review your current and probable future debts, such as the balance on a home mortgage or the kids' college tuition, if you expect these to be long-term obligations. Include projected expenses like funeral costs and bequests to loved ones, if assets are available for this purpose. During this step, start forming plans to tackle these and existing debts. Make sure your debts will be paid off or settled, as this will make the handling of your estate much easier for others, when the time comes. In most cases, the debt of the deceased cannot be inherited by their survivors, though in some cases collectors can legally try to collect from your beneficiaries. 

Consider Your Beneficiaries

In addition to your spouse and any biological or step-children, you may want to include adopted kids, foster children, or close friends. Extended family members can be added, as well. Some people designate funds for churches, charities, or universities. Much like making a will, this part of your estate plan will help you organize who will get what. It’s best to go about this over the course of a few years, so you’ll have time to really think about who your beneficiaries are and in what capacity you’d prefer them to inherit from your estate.

Your estate planning attorney can advise you about death taxes and other fiscal responsibilities or costs that may apply when you pass away. Having everything prearranged with a living will, a will, a funeral plan, and an estate plan can make it easier for your loved ones to carry out your final wishes and transfer property and assets to those who should get them, while paying any outstanding expenses.

Informational Credit to Rutter and Sleeth Law Offices

Top 5 Tips to Choose the Best Accountant for a Contractor

The accounting needs of a contractor are not similar to the needs of regular business people. If you are a contractor you have to look for the ideal accountant to look after your financial matters. Here are some effective tips to find the best contractor accountant. 

Contractors that operate their own businesses sometime contemplate the idea of running their accounts all by themselves. However, the burden of administrative tasks proves to be too time-consuming for them and most of the contractors find laws regarding taxation highly confusing and complex. 

All these reasons triggered the need of a specialist accountant for a contractor who is adept in dealing with the accounting needs of these self-employed people. But there is a plethora of such accounting professionals available in the city of London to choose from. 

Here is some insider tips that contractors should pay heed to in order to trace out the best accountant:

Consider only specialist contractor accountant in London

Being a contractor, your accounting needs are different than those who run their small businesses. This is why the foremost thing that you have to ensure is your chosen accountant is well-versed in dealing with your financial matters specifically. 

The accountant must have several years of experience of working closely with contractors and not giant corporate houses or SMEs. To find such accountants out you can keep a close eye on paid advertisements and the portals that are focused on contractors because only accountants with experience of working with contractors will have them advertised.

Select only regulated and well-qualified accountants

Accountants that are members of business organisations of contracting sector and are regulated by professional guilds your best bet. It will be even better if your chosen professional is also accredited by any organisation of freelancers as well. Overall, you have to ensure that the accountant has industry accreditation from recognized contracting bodies.

Select the accountant that offers services you actually need

There are umpteen contractor accountants in London  and their offerings are not the same and so do the requirements of hundreds of contractors in the city. Hence, be very clear about your needs and choose one accordingly. If you want accounting professional to take care of your annual accounts only the individual you will eventually choose will never be the same individual who will be working for another contractor that want all his financial aspects to be taken care of.

Opt for accountants with knowledge in contractor legislation

As mentioned earlier, your accounting and taxation needs are different so you have to ensure that your accountant is knowledgeable enough to carry out your financial tasks flawlessly. The professional must have deeper and proper understanding of IR35, Section 660 and MSC or Managed Services Company legislation. The individual must also understand the complex tax laws clearly. Any error in filing taxes can cost you dearly so it is a must that your accountant is top of these laws.

Many accountants also offer a few extra services for free such as IR35 contract reviews and if you come across any such free offerings don’t hesitate to grab them if you are certain that the quality of the service would be excellent.

Ask other contractors

You are not the sole contractor in the city of London. There are thousands more and chances are high that many of them have their own accountants as well. You can ask them directly or in online forums about the performance of their accountants. You need to choose that accountant that receives great reviews from clients. You can look for testimonials online to locate accountants that have previously performed well for other contractors.

If you follow these tips you will definitely find a qualified and experienced accountant. Most of these professionals charge a fixed monthly fee and the amount will be determined by the number and significance of services they are supposed to execute.

Author Bio

Jason Fox pens down write-ups on taxation and accounting on frequent basis. His articles where he shares effective tips to find the right accountant for contractor  are highly acclaimed in contracting world. 

When Does Refinancing Your Mortgage Make Sense?

 

We keeping hearing about how rates are going to go up any day, month, or year now. However, every day, month, and year that goes by I see rates sticking around at all time lows. Let’s not get into the media frenzy of predicting mortgage rates, but if you are seriously looking at refinancing then there are several question and key points for you to consider. First, how long do you plan on staying in your home? Second, what sort of rate do you have right now, and how much can it really be improved? What are the fees and costs associated with the refinance? Can a NPBS fixed rate mortgage be your solution? These are all questions to ask before refinancing your mortgage.

You really need to consider how long you plan on staying in your house before going through the refinance process. Chances are you have no idea the number of years you will require your mortgage to be without first considering how long you want to live there. If you know that you employer plans on transferring you out of the country sometime within the next ten years it may not make sense to refinance into a 30 year loan. Rather, you can look at rates for a 10 year loans, which are considerably less in interest. Or perhaps you know you have found your dream home and plan on living there the rest of your life. In this case I prefer to err on the side of caution and take out a full 30 year term loan. Rates may go down over that time period, but they could go up as well, I’d prefer not to leave my finances to chance. 

The rate you currently have right now is very important, as are the costs and fees associated with refinancing. You didn’t think that mortgage companies refinanced for free, did you? A general rule of thumb is that you should save at least 0.25% off your current interest rate for a refinance to be worth it financially. If you have to spend a couple thousand dollars on a refinance then it will take you some time to recoup that money, and anything less than 0.25% might not be worth it. You will often hear of zero cost refinances, and this is sort of true, but misleading at the same time. Zero cost really means deferred cost. Rather than paying for the lowest rate upfront, you are saying you are willing to accept a slightly higher rate than necessary in order to offset the loan costs. I have actually done this myself, three times to be exact. It’s a good thing because I sold my house shortly after the refinance, so I was able to pay down a little extra principal on the loan without paying costly refinance fees.

Are You Serious about your Profession or Business or Are You Just Marking Time?

Just too often, the imaginative work people most regard, the things that gives the most significant meaning and fulfillment to our daily lives, gets pushed aside for other concerns. Regardless the resourceful work you're performing-- creating, designing, composing, coding, or simply conceiving ideas-- if people wish to make actual progress, it's important you look upon your employment not as a hobby, but as a profession.

The authors who complete books, the painters that finish art works, the programmers who write useful programs-- each one of them do not fit their artistic work in whenever they have time. Given that there is never time. These people come regardless and carry out the their job.

What exactly sets the pros apart from the rookies? It's not merely outside recognition or achievements. The majority of us have 2 existences. The everyday life we live, and the unlived existence inside us. Somewhere between the two stands a level of resistance. The professionals are the people who effectively conquer that resistance and succeed in the face of it.

"A LOT OF OF US HAVE 2 LIVES. THE LIFE WE LIVE, AND THE UNLIVED LIFE INSIDE US. IN BETWEEN THE 2 STANDS RESISTANCE."

The initial step to feeling more gratified by your work and making notable progress on it is transforming your mindset toward it. But what are the actions one has to take in order to end up being a skilled professional instead of merely a amateur? The skilled professional takes on the task that will make him stretch. He undertakes the project that will deliver him or her toward unexplored waters, force them to experience subconscious aspects of themselves. Is he or she terrified? Hell, yes. If ever you're debilitated with trepidation, it's a very good indicator. It indicates to you exactly what you need to do.

DON'T OVER-IDENTIFY WITH YOUR CAREER

A typical error a lot of imaginative people make is feeling emotionally restrained in their jobs. Whenever your job turns into your identity and primary guage of self, you put a great deal of strain on yourself. And strain can end up being unbearable. Pros recognize this and prepare themselves against it.

It's never about the triumph of the job. It's about the method of building it. Resistance knows that the inexperienced musician may never compose his music because he is highly invested in its successes and over-terrified of its failure. The inexperienced takes it so seriously it immobilizes him.

UNDERSTAND THE 'PROCESS OF PRIORITY

Process of Priority is a practical two-step technique to prioritizing the job that comes your direction.

Those 2 phases are: recognize the distinction between just what is actually necessary and what's important. Complete what is very important first.

GENERATE REGULAR FOCUS BLOCKS

Accomplishing what's important first is certainly a lot easier said than done. One way to get there is to set up regular focus blocks or periods of undisturbed time specifically set aside for innovative work. That implies no interruptions are permitted to worm their way to the forefront.

Do not be too eager in the amount of time you assume you can concentrate when just getting starting. Begin with an hour or so of undisturbed time and progressively add 15 minutes weekly.

WELCOME THE FEAR

Worry can possibly be the great resistance we encounter. Suppose you commit all this time and energy and the end result is a failure? Suppose you get severe criticism when you send it out into the world? Or eventually discover you truly may not be qualified for this type of work? Keep in mind our general rule. The more frightened we are of a work or calling, the more confident we can be that we ought to make it happen.

BE EQUIPPED WITH PERSISTENCE

Inventive work requires generous quantities of your time. It seldom comes out correct your first try at it. Trial and error and an openness to screw it up are par for the course. The skilled professional equips himself with perseverance, not simply to provide the stars time to line up in his occupation, but to help keep themselves from flaming out in each particular task. He or she understands that any task, regardless if it's a best-seller or a kitchen renovation, takes twice as long as he imagines and costs twice as much. He acknowledges that. He acknowledges it as reality.

Important Things for All Seniors to Know About Insurance as They Age

There are countless changes that come with age—many of these changes pertaining to your lifestyle and finances. Many people don’t realize that as they age, their needs change, thus their financial distribution and insurance coverage will (or should) change as well. What you might need from your health, car or home insurance provider today may not be what you need next year as a senior. That's why it is important to evaluate and reevaluate your insurance as you age. Read on to learn about the changes that will take place, and how adjust accordingly. 

Health Insurance Changes

When you start coverage with a certain health insurance company, the plan you receive may be selected as your best option when you start it. It may cover accidents and some disease-related incidents, but chances are that it might not cover your medications as a senior. To ensure that your health insurance will cover you, it's important that you find out what procedures and medications your health insurance covers. You should find out if there are any transitional programs designed for adults whom are reaching their older years. You should even ensure that your insurance plan has health providers in your area, as access to preferred health providers is one of the most important concerns for seniors.

Life Insurance Can Expire

You may have started working thirty or more years ago. The first thing you might have done is to purchase a life insurance policy that you've been paying on for some time ever since. The problem is that your life insurance policy might expire, especially if you purchased a term life insurance policy. The professionals at Steers Insurance, an insurance company in Newfoundland, suggest that you contact your life insurance provider to ensure you are still covered as you age, and when your policy expires. 

Car Insurance Can Become More Expensive

The cost of car insurance is decided by a complicated risk-assessment equation that calculates everything from your driving record to the period of time you've gone without an accident. Your age, your health status and even something like your credit score can affect how much you pay. If you find that your car insurance rates have risen significantly, then the first thing you should do is to talk to your insurance provider. They may have a plan that fits your lifestyle as a senior with reduced rates. 

Prescriptions Can Get Pricey

Prescription medicines are generally the most costly out-of-pocket expense that seniors have to deal with. You may need medication that isn't covered by your insurance provider because of the type of medication it is, or the fact that there is no generic drug available. If that happens to you, then you could be paying hefty out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions that you need but aren't covered. Always ask your doctor and your health insurance provider before you change prescriptions. You may be able to avoid heightened costs or find a better plan that more adequately covers your costs.

Home Insurance Should Stay Affordable and Comprehensive

Depending upon where you live as a senior, you may find that your deductibles and rates for home insurance are becoming larger by the day. Some seniors have even been forced to consider going without home insurance because the costs were too high. As a senior, this is the last thing you want to happen to you. Staying on top of your home insurance, both knowing what your home insurance covers and how you can keep your rates affordable, is yet another thing that you must do as a senior.

Understanding the Dilemmas Insurance Poses to Senior Citizens

Insurance is a tricky thing to manage, and it becomes even harder to do so as you age. Staying on top of what your insurance covers and how much you have to pay to keep your insurance are two things that will only become increasingly important as you age. The one shining ray of hope concerning this is that many insurance companies offer discounts and plans designed specifically for senior citizens. You need only seek out these plans to ensure that your insurance continues to keep you safe as you age.

Home Savings: How to Save Money on Energy this Winter

Winter is here and you may have noticed that some of your energy bills have started to go up. It is this time of the year that almost everyone starts using more energy to heat their homes. There are quite a few easy steps that homeowners can take to cut back on energy bills this winter. Here is a combination of do-it-yourself projects and some professional upgrades that will cut down on your monthly expenses while still keeping your home warm during the coldest months of the year.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Saving on energy bills is not just about keeping a home at the right temperature, but only having the furnace or heater on precisely when it is needed. A programmable thermostat allows residents to set the temperature that they would like their home to be at as well as set timers. Instead of leaving the heater on all day, it will only turn on just before anyone gets back from work or school. You can also set the temperature in different rooms that way the rooms that you are currently using or using the most will stay warmer. By limiting the heat in the rooms that are used less, it will allow you to save money on your energy costs while at home.

Utilize Your Fireplace

Many homes don’t have a traditional fireplace anymore, but if you have one, you will save a lot of money if you utilize your fireplace. This will provide you the possibility of turning your furnace off or at the very least turn it down as your fireplace should be able to heat your whole home and allow you to save money on your energy costs each month.

Push Back the Curtains

Winter may seem like a bad time to keep the curtains open, but natural sunlight can still heat up a home considerably. On sunny days, a family should push back the curtains on west and south-facing windows each afternoon in order to heat the home by a few degrees. As an added bonus, energy efficient windows will still help to keep the house insulated from the outside weather while allowing sunlight to get in. 

Plugging Leaks

Depending on the age of a home and how well it was constructed, the average house is losing around 10 percent of its heating efficiency through small cracks and leaks. This weekend project should begin by caulking or weather-stripping leaks around any major doors and windows. Old vents, pipes, and electrical wires may also be letting in cold air if not properly sealed.

Install New Insulation

Due to the fact that heat travels up, an attic is a prime location for improving on one's energy bills. Within most homes, insulation in the attic will need to be changed at least every few years, but the attic's insulation should be inspected at least once a year for any damage (Source: Great Canadian). For some families, this will improve the heat retention of a home by as much as 20 percent. 

HVAC Tune-Up

HVAC systems are relatively complex and should be serviced and maintained at least once a year, preferably well before the cold weather sets in. Professional maintenance will include steps such as checking ducts for leaks, tightening belts, topping off fluids, and checking the accuracy of the thermostat. A professional HVAC technician is also needed to achieve the right balance for fuel and air for a furnace's pilot light.

Just because the weather is changing does not mean that a family needs to break the bank in order to keep their home comfortable. Some easy preventative steps are all that is needed to keep any building insulated and warm throughout the winter.