Our Blog - Surety Matters

  Although it’s best for everyone to have an estate plan–and avoid dying “intestate”–it’s especially important for unmarried partners not to leave the distribution of assets for the law to manage. That’s because state intestacy…
Read Moreabout Unmarried Partners: Avoid Intestacy

  Most families manage to avoid the headaches and heartaches of probate disputes through careful estate planning. Absent that, diligent adherence to probate protocols, including abiding by the laws of intestacy to distribute assets can…
Read Moreabout Probate Heartache: Valid Marriage?

  For business owners, the days of having a vague notion that cybersecurity requires attention–and hoping “someone” in IT has it covered, are over. Top down and all around action is necessary to protect the…
Read Moreabout From Awareness To Action

  How well do the actual operations of the company sponsored retirement plan match the procedures spelled out in the plan document? Are the operations also in compliance with what even experts say are “increasingly…
Read Moreabout Here’s To A Happy Ending….

  Indeed, wills are a great way to designate assets for beneficiaries and appoint guardians for minor children. Estate planning experts remind us, however, that trusts can come in handy in the face of many…
Read Moreabout A Will Should Be Fine?

  At its roots, probate is simply the public process of settling debts and distributing assets upon death. If a will has been made, the designated executor handles the process in accordance with state probate…
Read Moreabout Avoiding Probate Mistakes

  The use of plan forfeitures to offset employer contributions has been a longstanding practice of retirement plan fiduciaries. Nonetheless, new lawsuits are now alleging that this widespread practice is a violation of ERISA. Although…
Read Moreabout Is It A Violation?

  Among the complications for employers sponsoring 401k plans is the handling of deductions when retroactive contributions are made. Now, attorneys caution that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is signaling heightened interest in audits related…
Read Moreabout Heightened Interest: IRS Audits

  Recognizing that the high cost of living (and student loan debt) makes it hard for workers to save, many employers are trying new strategies to inspire more engagement with company sponsored retirement plans, and…
Read Moreabout New Strategies To Help Employees