Welcome to Estate of Mind… HWK’s blog focusing on estate matters
Whether you’re new to estate planning or looking to update your current strategies, our blog offers insights, practical advice, and the latest updates to help you make informed decisions. Explore topics ranging from wills and trusts to tax implications and asset protection, all designed to empower you, safeguard your loved ones’ future, and put you into an estate of mind.
Our blog content is not legal advice but rather general information. Please consult with our legal professionals for personalized advice.
Lessons in Estate Planning from Rain Man
Rain Man is one of the most iconic American movies of the 1980s. Starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, it won four Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and was the highest-grossing film of 1988. Although secondary to the main plot, several estate planning threads run through Rain Man,...
Wealth, Legacy, and Family Drama
Wealth, Legacy, and Family Drama: Inside The Descendants Picture this: You are standing on a piece of land that has been in your family for generations and has been handed down through a trust. The land is imbued with memories from your childhood, your children, and family gatherings. You want to...
An Estate Plan Is Your Script to a Lasting Legacy
An estate plan is your script to a lasting legacy. “We are all storytellers, and we are the stories we tell,” wrote American psychologist Dan McAdams. Narrative thinking refers to how we view our own role in the story of our lives. It is a more formal way of describing “main character energy” or...
Four Financial Things to Know Before Graduating High School
Young adults are not known for being the most fiscally responsible people. Yet financial planning is more important than ever for a generation that is struggling with high inflation and debt and has a tendency to prioritize spending over saving. If your advice is falling on deaf ears, try putting...
Does a Young Adult Need a Will?
As our client—and as a parent—you know that having a comprehensive estate plan ensures that your children will be taken care of if something happens to you. But what if something happens to your child? Should they have a will, too? And if they do not, what happens then? These are some of the...
High School Seniors Can Use a Starter Estate Plan
The long, carefree days of summer are nearing an end. If you have a high school senior at home, childhood is also coming to an end for them as they prepare to graduate, turn 18, and enter the “real world.” You have done everything you can to prepare your child mentally, emotionally, and...
Consider a Pet Trust
Why Every Pet Parent Needs to Consider a Pet Trust Today Estate planning is about protecting what is important to you. Although much of the traditional estate planning conversation focuses on surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, and charities, many pet parents wonder what could happen to...
Debunking Common Misconceptions About Wills
Debunking Common Misconceptions About Wills The majority of Americans do not have a will, and the number of US households with a will has been in steady decline.[1] At the outset, it is important to dispel a recurring myth about estate planning: It is not just for the wealthy—or older adults,...
Add Estate Planning to Your Kid’s College Checklist
You may have been running around for weeks, getting your new college student off to school. It's exhilarating, and your heart likely is bursting at the seams. You're probably prouder than words can express, but you’re also a little afraid, too. How can you make sure your child is going to be safe...
From Field to Heirloom: Strategies for Passing Down Sports Memorabilia in Your Estate Plan
You may have spent decades building up your sports memorabilia collection. Maybe you have some rare cards and autographed pictures that have steadily gained value over the years, and now they are worth a significant amount of money. You go to great lengths to keep these items in mint condition....