Do I need a revocable trust? While a revocable trust has become a common estate planning strategy, it is also the subject of much confusion. The late Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christiansen taught that businesses must precisely distill the objective that customers are hiring the service or product to accomplish; that is, what Christiansen […]
Can’t we just e-sign our Wills? Clients are surprised to learn that under Minnesota law, a Will must be signed on physical paper, in ink, and in the physical presence of two witnesses. Since many legal contracts can now be signed by electronic signature, Will signing formalities might seem to be stuck in the 1950’s. […]
It’s open enrollment season, which means that our law firm, like your company, has recently received notice of its 2023 health insurance coverage options. Having reviewed our firm’s coverage costs, well, let’s hope that 2023 brings good health, and few medical appointments, for my family as well as for yours. As occasioned by this upbeat […]
Buy One, Get One Free. Who doesn’t like a good deal? Whether two-for-one amusement park tickets, sports tickets or my favorite, BOGO children’s meals, we appreciate “two for the price of one” deals. In this month’s update, I share why we recommend that married residents of the State of Minnesota create two trusts—in some respects, […]
While recently helping my third-grade daughter with her math assignments, I had to “google” the exact definition of a “prime number.” If your memory is better than mine, you will recall that a prime number is any number that cannot be made by multiplying two other whole numbers. Just as prime numbers cannot be divided […]
“This coordinated lying between us is exhausting, how do criminals manage?” With careful coordination, my wife and I were able to keep the truth about Santa Claus from our children for several years. During that time, neither of us wanted to be the bearer of bad news about Santa to the kids. When they were […]
Once a young adult child graduates high school and leaves home, many of our clients express frustration over the inability of the parents to obtain information and make important decisions that are critical to the well-being of the young adult child. To the frustration of many of our clients, the child’s university seems to know […]
In his best-selling book, “How Will You Measure Your Life,” Clay Christensen writes, “Companies focus too much on what they want to sell their customers, rather than what those customers really need.” According to Christiansen, successful companies are able to first determine what problems their customers are trying to solve, and then provide a product […]
Grandpa, who is going to get your fishing boat when you die? Apparently my estate planning mind started early—at around age 6 or 7. After a beautiful afternoon of fishing with my grandfather on a rural Minnesota lake, I broke the silence of the car ride home with the most indelicate of questions. My grandfather […]