Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:12 — 45.0MB)
Bob and Ted discuss tips on handling custody arrangements during the holidays.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:12 — 45.0MB)
Bob and Ted discuss tips on handling custody arrangements during the holidays.
Nice people stop by my office to take care of their estate planning. Recently, a client shared a letter with me. It was a letter to his grandson. He wanted it delivered after he died, along with a check from the sale of his house.
“Dear Ben:
I want you to know how much you have meant to me. When I first held you in my arms, you were 2 days old. I couldn’t believe you were my grandson. What a miracle. As the years passed by, I always cherished our time together. Remember our first Mariner game? You were eight and we sat right up close. Between the pop, two hotdogs and I’m not sure what else, we had such a great time together. I always appreciated that as you grew older, you still took time to attend a Mariner game or two with me each spring. It meant a lot to me, especially when I knew you had a lot of other things to do and people (girls) to see. I don’t think I ever said thanks, but then I don’t think it would have sounded right; we were just spending time together. When your grandmother died a few years ago, those baseball games meant even more.
I was very proud of you when you stayed on the soccer team the year your dad died, and I still remember the year you won the team inspirational award. You inspired me. When you graduated from high school and then again, from college, I wanted to tell you that you were my hero. You were. Now, you are married and you have three kids, and what a terrific husband and father you are. If your dad were still around, I know he’d be so happy with the way you have turned out. You are receiving a check with this letter. I wish it could be more, but the check is not important. Just remember how much I love you and that I am your biggest fan. I’ll be rooting for you wherever it is I have gone. Love, your grandpa.”
This letter made me think. If I were Ben, I think I would feel better about the words than the dollars. How about you? Have you written a letter to your grandchild? What would you say?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:09 — 44.1MB)
Questions ran from DUI to corporations and we even received a couple of questions via Twitter.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:56 — 44.8MB)
Bob and Ted discuss tips for safe online shopping; to go or not to go
(bankrupt); cats, cats and more cats to rescue or evict. Listen to
this week’s edition of Legal Line with Bob Pittman and Ted Barr.
This is the time to be jolly and enjoy the upcoming holidays. And, this is the time when we write those end of the year checks to charities. Before you do, check your charity out a little, perhaps on www.charitynavigator.org (for large charities) or maybe by looking over their most recent IRS Form 990 (http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/990finder/). Try to figure out how much of your donation might actually be used in charitable work. How much is paid to the executive director?
Here in Washington State, you may also check out a charity at the website for the Charities Program: http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/DatabaseSearch.aspx For example, if you check out the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, this site tells us that “…this organization devoted 76% of its total expenses to program services…” for the period ending June 30, 2010. By contrast, the Seattle Foundation “…devoted 93% of its total expenses to program services…” in the most recent reporting period. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Tacoma group is not as efficient, but, armed with the information, you can ask questions and explore more to determine where you might want to send your check. The number for Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation is 81%. The number for Tacoma Goodwill Industries is 92%. For the Tacoma Rescue Mission, the number is 86%. If you look up the Emergency Food Network, you’ll see that their number is 98%. FISH Food Banks of Pierce County also comes in at 98%. Again, you want to do more homework on this and not rely exclusively on these particular numbers. Have a look at the IRS Form 990 to see all of the details on what is paid out and to whom, and ask questions. You want to be an informed donor. Now, don’t forget to send those checks out before the end of the year.