A health care directive is a critical piece of your overall estate plan. Why? It allows you to communicate your preferences in advance for medical care in the event you’re incapacitated and cannot express your wishes. However, depending on your jurisdiction, a directive can go by several different names, including living wills, advance medical directives and directives…

Structured settlements are commonly associated with the payment of personal injury damages because of their advantageous tax-free treatment. But some business purchases and buyouts can also benefit from structured settlements using annuity payments from an insurance company. Basics of Structured SettlementsA structured settlement is an agreement made to settle a monetary claim or lawsuit. It provides…

During legal proceedings, such as a divorce or bankruptcy, it’s often necessary to uncover money by conducting a financial investigation to expose fraud, embezzlement or hidden assets. How the Analysis WorksAssume that utility expenses for the year under examination are $7,000 (in absolute dollars) or 10% of total operating expenses (common size). During the financial probe,…