Our Blog - Surety Matters

Given the massive scale (and page count) of SECURE 2.0, it may come as a relief to all the retirement plan sponsors scurrying toward comprehension and compliance that the IRS has begun issuing Q &A…
Read Moreabout IRS Guidance on SECURE 2.0

Working, Gen X Americans, between the ages of 43 and 58, are facing big hurdles on the path to successful retirement. For Gen X, the first generation largely reliant on company sponsored retirement plans and…
Read Moreabout Gen X: Running Behind

Given the relative ease of set-up and their flexibility, revocable trusts are a popular and convenient estate planning tool. Despite the scarier name and implications, however, irrevocable trusts can also turn out to be useful,…
Read Moreabout Irrevocable Trust: Pros and Cons

One of the most important aspects of estate planning is the designation of fiduciaries: the people entrusted to manage our affairs, in accordance with our intentions. Because life takes twists and turns, attorneys advise naming…
Read Moreabout Back Up Plan: Fiduciaries!

Courts frequently require the person appointed to handle the affairs of the deceased to obtain a probate bond, which acts as a guarantee that debts and assets will be properly handled in accordance with state…
Read Moreabout Probate Bonds Explained

When a will is created, an in terrorem clause, also referred to as a no-contest clause, can be included to prevent disputes about the provisions made in the will. Because disputes can drain time and…
Read Moreabout In Terrorem Clause?

Retirement plan sponsors may find some consolation from knowing that they are not alone in their fears of being swept up in ERISA litigation, despite their diligence. Unfortunately, analysis finds that when fear results in…
Read Moreabout Plan Sponsor Fears: Litigation!

Plan sponsors will be heartened to know that not all the news is bad when it comes to retirement readiness: some studies find that retirement saving rates have been holding steady this year, with balances…
Read Moreabout Retirement Readiness: Persistent Gaps

The process of probate is somewhat like a funnel: upon death, assets pass through, so that decisions about where they end up are formalized, publicly and on the record. However, if beneficiaries have been named…
Read Moreabout Probate Vs NonProbate Assets?