Our Blog - Surety Matters

When we die, our financial matters must be sorted out. Is money owed on a car or other property? What about taxes? After debts are paid, remaining assets can be distributed. Who gets them, in…
Read Moreabout Understanding The Basics of Probate

Is it worth it for small businesses to sponsor retirement plans? From many different vantage points, the answer is most likely: yes. Putting workers on the path to a secure retirement is a wonderful way…
Read Moreabout 401k: Worth The Effort?

Though we take our own individual paths, most everyone ultimately makes a journey to nonworking years—-aka retirement. Since preparing for those years is essential for all of us, why do retirement plan communications tend to…
Read Moreabout Everyone’s A Participant, Right?

When sponsoring a retirement plan, hiring outside experts, such as experienced, professional fiduciaries, is generally considered a smart move. What’s not smart however, is being unclear about who has what responsibilities–and ultimately liabilities. Though plan…
Read Moreabout Retirement Plan: Professional Fiduciary? 

Summer brings the deadline for signing and submitting Form 5500 to most retirement plan sponsors. Typically, we rely on service providers to prepare this annual report, so all we have to do is sign off….
Read Moreabout Form 5500: Is Yours Accurate?

The term for the individual responsible for closing out the affairs of a deceased relative or friend can be tricky, so here’s help. When someone dies without a will, probate court typically appoints an administrator….
Read Moreabout Administrator? Executor? Personal Representative?

Sooner or later in life, we have to take the ultimate actions of adulting: making plans for our later years, which include provisions for our caregiving needs in the event of decline, and the gifting…
Read Moreabout Let’s Talk: Money, Values and Hopes

The public process of bringing the affairs of the deceased to closure, aka probate, tends to sound scary and off-putting, and is often surrounded by confusion, and misinformation. Here are simple answers to the basic…
Read Moreabout Probate Questions Answered

During a trial, attorneys present evidence and argue cases before a judge and jury. If there are grounds to challenge a trial court decision, the case goes to an appeals court, where an argument is…
Read Moreabout Trial Vs. Appeal?