How to Make a Big Impact Locally with Year-End Charitable Giving

December 2023  By: MALCOLM BUTLER
How to Make a Big Impact Locally with Year-End Charitable Giving
As seen in The Savannah Morning News on 11/21/2023. American billionaire, investor and philanthropist Warren Buffet once observed: “If you’re in the luckiest one percent of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99%.” If you’re fortunate to be in a position to donate...

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Strategic Options for Education Savings

August 2023  By: BESS BUTLER BRUNSON, CFP®
Strategic Options for Education Savings
One of the best gifts you can give your children or your grandchildren is to plan ahead to help reduce their student debt burden in college and beyond. Nearly 44 million Americans have student loans valued at more than $1.57 trillion, as of August 31, 2023, according to the New York Federal...

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Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid

July 2023  By: MALCOLM BUTLER
Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid
According to Caring.com’s 2023 Wills and Estate Planning Study, 60% of Americans have a retirement account, but only 34% of Americans have a will. Estate planning is one of the most important strategies for our clients when it comes to long-term financial planning. Your estate plan should...

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Nurturing Financial Responsibility

June 2023  By: JUSTIN KOHLER, CFP®
Nurturing Financial Responsibility
In a world where financial literacy and responsible money management skills are becoming increasingly vital, many families and individuals understand the importance of safeguarding assets which have been diligently saved and invested over a lifetime. As you consider your legacy, one question may...

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Helping Families Create a Lasting Legacy

October 2022  By: BESS BUTLER BRUNSON, CFP®
Helping Families Create a Lasting Legacy
The recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II underscores the impact of leaving a lasting, meaningful legacy. While the Queen had biographers and the media to document her life in the public eye, we have a service at The Fiduciary Group to help our clients document and pass on their legacy and wealth...

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Understanding Unitrusts

August 2022  By: MALCOLM BUTLER
Understanding Unitrusts
When it comes to trusts, income beneficiaries and remainder beneficiaries typically have competing interests. Income beneficiaries usually want the biggest current distribution, while remainder beneficiaries prefer to protect and preserve trust assets so they will inherit more money in the future....

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Which Type of Trust is Best for You and Your Family?

January 2022  By: MALCOLM BUTLER
Which Type of Trust is Best for You and Your Family?
Americans are living longer than ever, which means it’s more important than ever to plan ahead for your financial future and to efficiently ensure the transfer of wealth to future generations. According to the Stanford Center on Longevity and The Longevity Project, Americans are living...

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Why Having a Will is Just One Aspect of Your Estate Planning

October 2021  By: MALCOLM BUTLER
Why Having a Will is Just One Aspect of Your Estate Planning
Over the years, I’ve had a number of clients who mistakenly think that a legally binding will has the power to keep their estate out of probate court. However, to put it simply: having a will isn’t enough. Additional steps must be taken in order to ensure the strategic transfer of assets to your...

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Why You Shouldn’t Leave Family Property to Your Children

July 2021  By: MALCOLM BUTLER
Why You Shouldn’t Leave Family Property to Your Children
I’ve had numerous clients leave family homes—from beach houses to picturesque farms—to their children as part of their estate plans. However, despite the best of intentions, this decision isn’t always in the best interests of the heirs. The reality is that inheriting a family home can be more of a...

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Why an Estate Plan Is the Best Gift You Can Give Your Grandchild

April 2021  By: MALCOLM BUTLER
Why an Estate Plan Is the Best Gift You Can Give Your Grandchild
While awaiting the recent birth of my first granddaughter, I spent a lot of time thinking about the best possible gift I could give her. Ultimately, I decided that the ideal present for my grandchild was to give her parents–my daughter and her husband–a professionally drafted estate plan.

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