SSWBN – About The Law, February 2012
February 4, 2012 by khoward
Filed under About The Law
Crocuses, Daffodils, Tulips … Tax Planning and Estate Planning
Sooner rather than later, the crocuses, daffodils and tulips will pop. Then comes the Tax Man. Whether you do taxes yourself or use an accountant, talk to a professional about your assets.
Do not forget interest rates on mortgages are at historic lows. We have referral sources that give great deals to our clients.
This is a great time to look at your estate plan. Over the past few years many things have happened in your life or in the lives of your family that necessitate reviewing and modifying your wills, …
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SSWBN – About The Law, January 2012
January 11, 2012 by khoward
Filed under About The Law
- Barry Gordon
2012
A new year, a good time to get your legal house in order.
Here is a simple checklist:
- Prepare an estate plan, complete with wills, trusts, powers of attorneys and healthcare proxy. This is especially important if you are divorced or newly married.
- Prepare a succession plan for your business.
- Protect your non business assets.
- Talk with your parents about estate and Medicaid planning.
Make three plans for yourself and your family to address each of these issues: a plan for this
week, one for this month, and one for this year.
Make certain that everyone who …
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SSWBN – About the Law, December 2011
December 5, 2011 by khoward
Filed under About The Law
‘BREAKFAST WITH BARRY’ FEATURES FREE NEW YEAR PLANNING
Everyone promises to make New Year’s resolutions. Everyone promises to do better. So to make the most of your resolutions and promises, here are my suggestions based on my experience as a practicing attorney since 1969:
- Shed people who bring nothing positive to your life.
- Shed bad habits, slowly and deliberately. Do not overpromise yourself.
- Find professionals who can help you preserve and grow your business.
- Get second opinion.
- Tell the professionals whom you work with what you like about the service they provide, and what can be fixed.
- Stop obsessing about what
SSWBN – About the Law, November 2011
November 8, 2011 by khoward
Filed under About The Law
Twenty Years and Counting
Well, I was not there at the beginning of SSWBN — but as soon as the door opened I entered. The people I have met are among the most hardworking I know.
My good friend and insurance agent, the late Joan Ryder, and I had been having a friendly and fascinating discussion that sounded like: “So why can’t men join? It’s not fair. I want your business and you want mine.”
To the best of my knowledge only one woman left because I entered the forbidden kingdom of SSWBN !
Through the good times, and they …
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SSWBN – About The Law, October 2011
October 7, 2011 by khoward
Filed under About The Law
Planning for 2012
In case you have not heard, mortgage rates are lower than they have ever been … well,
for at least as far back as I can remember. Refinancing, assuming you qualify,
is a no-brainer. Call Barry Gordon for a referral.
Additionally, if you have decided that you cannot afford to keep your home, and you want to toss in the towel, 2011 is the last time you will not be taxed on mortgage
forgiveness. This tax break will be eliminated as current law stands. Call Barry Gordon for advice.
The homestead laws have changed, and for anyone who …
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SSWBN – About The Law, September 2011
September 8, 2011 by khoward
Filed under About The Law
Hope the summer is not quite over … but it is time to think about
planning for the fall and whatever that may bring.
As you know, I am a perpetual optimist. This is so even though the damned
fools in D.C. haven’t figured “it” out. While they are busy dickering over immaterial details, you should save a bit more than you think you need to save and spend for only what you need.
Protect what you have by filing a homestead on your residence, put assets Read more >>
into trusts if you need to do so, start thinking about Medicaid planning and …
About The Law – August 2011
August 4, 2011 by khoward
Filed under About The Law
Talk About Avoiding Pitfalls and Bumps
I have many sayings and bits of lawyer humor that I toss into my newsletters such as: “Just because someone throws you a ball, does not mean you have to catch it — you should, however, step out of the way;” and “Where there is a will, there is a relative.”
All of these sayings have a basis in real life. Much of my practice involves working with individuals and their businesses and families unwinding difficult relationships and avoiding potential problems. Most people have a very focused perspective of their surroundings and the future. …
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SSWBN – About the Law – July, 2011
June 30, 2011 by khoward
Filed under About The Law
- Barry Gordon
Protect Yourself
I am an unabashed optimist but often find myself in the position of tempering my optimism with the practical need to protect myself and my clients.
Anyone who does not have a homestead on their principal residence is just plain stupid.
Go on the website for the county registry of deeds in the county where your property is located. The site will explain what a homestead is and the process. If you do not know in which county your property is located go onto www.masslandrecords.com . If you prepare the homestead yourself the only …
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SSWBN “About the Law” June 2011
June 6, 2011 by khoward
Filed under About The Law
Learned From Abroad
My wife and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Europe. It was perfect. We were on a riverboat in Netherlands and Belgium, saw the tulips, and ate the mussels.
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and talking with people all over the world. The most insightful people were the cab drivers. One came from Azerbaijan and one came from Turkey via Georgia and Armenia. They came to Europe for a better life. They were not political or terrorists. They wanted a better life for their families. One had a son who had autism and one …
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About The Law, April 2011
April 5, 2011 by khoward
Filed under About The Law
Imagination
What has your imagination allowed you to do? Are you stymied by your imagination, or stimulated by it?
Imagination that has kept you from moving forward and tackling old issues and creating new adventures is called fear. Who has told you that you could not do what you wanted to do? Was it your lawyer, your accountant, your financial advisor? If it was, then simply stated, you have the wrong professionals working with you. You have the wrong staff around you and your business plan is wrong.
If you spend 15-hour days, six days a week working at your …
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