Articles

What Casey Serin Can Teach Us

There's a lot of suffering to go around these days with real estate--maybe you're trying to refinance your adjustable rate mortgage before it resets to three times your current payment, or your home equity line of credit has been capped due to your declining home value, or you just escaped your first real estate "flip" deal with $5 profit.(read full article)

If I Had Only Known: Why You Need a Prenuptial Agreement

You have life insurance, so why not insurance for your marriage, particularly since over half the marriages in California end in divorce? A prenuptial agreement based on clear, honest communication can give you that edge and set the stage for a long-lasting marriage. (read full article)

Make Your Mark and Keep It!

When you are sick with a cold, you probably find yourself asking for a Kleenex or an aspirin rather than a cleansing tissue or an acetylsalicylic acid tablet. That’s because the brand names for these items have become generic words in the American lexicon, losing the trademark status originally created by their manufacturers.(read full article)

Choosing the Right Home for Mom and Dad

Taking good care of our aging parents is one of the most difficult challenges of middle age. The truth is that while there are a variety of options, all require some type of significant change in a living situation, which can be emotionally trying for the elderly. In many cases, it is just as traumatic to the adult children of seniors to watch their parents give up their childhood home.(read full article)

Handshake Partnerships: Do They Work?

“Can we shake on it?” “But we had a deal!” “You gave me your word!” In most states, all it takes is a conversation and a handshake to form a business relationship as legally binding as one with an extensive written contract. While the advantage of an oral agreement is that you can create a partnership quickly and at little cost, you may be in for some costly surprises during tax season or when disputes arise, such as when it’s time to split the profits.(read full article)

Protecting Your Loved Ones from Elder Abuse

One of the most serious threats to seniors often comes from an unlikely source – family members or caregivers that profess to have the senior’s best interest at heart while slyly reaching a hand into their bank account. Financial elder abuse occurs when a victim is exploited because of vulnerabilities associated with age, such as an impaired mental capacity. Typically, someone close to an older person forces him or her to sell personal belongings or property; steals their money or possessions, or withholds the funds that they need for daily living.(read full article)