As a savvy consumer of financial services, it’s important to understand how your assets are safeguarded.

Caring for someone with special needs can be physically, emotionally, and financially challenging. A Special Needs Trust administered by a trustee with experience, can relieve some of your stress, assure the financial well-being of your loved one, and preserve family harmony.

When was the last time you took a look at your estate plan? Last year? Five years ago? No doubt things have changed in your life and your financial situation since then. Here are ten questions that can help you decide if your estate plan needs adjusting right now to make sure it’s in sync with your current financial situation.

While you may need to quickly adjust your financial “sails” occasionally to respond to unexpected life changes, there are many other events that you can prepare for in advance to make future course corrections much easier. Here’s a review of six major life events that can alter your financial plans – plus some actions you can take now to make sure you’re prepared for the future.

The midpoint of the year can be a good time to step back and assess your financial goals to make sure you're still on track given any changes in the economy and markets as well as your personal situation.

Because a will only goes into effect after you die, it doesn’t provide any direction for your family if you become seriously ill or disabled during your lifetime. However, just as an advanced directive can provide guidelines for those who make decisions about your medical care, a trust can provide direction for the person who manages your financial assets if you are unable to.