Should you leave the money to the kids? -- The Downside of Inherited Wealth

Handing down wealth to kids is often a no-win situation.

Parents work hard to make money to leave their kids. Then they have to work to offset the impact of money on their kids’ lives. Even then, the results aren’t always successful (how many Kardashian sisters are there now?).

A new study from Los Angeles-based Bel Air Investment Advisors, surveying wealthy kids and families attending a “next generation” seminar, shows that families are well aware of the the pitfalls of inherited wealth –- yet they keep on passing it down.

The survey found that 60% of the wealthy – or soon-to-be-wealthy – kids identified with the statement that “wealth created discomfort in the family.”

More than half agreed that “wealth has made it hard to live up to the success of parents or previous generations.”

Even if they get the money, the money is a cause for more worry. Nearly two out of three respondents are “very concerned” about growing their wealth.

So what’s the right strategy for money and kids? It depends on the kid, of course. But I have yet to hear a good overall answer. Leaving no money to kids creates its ownresentments (even Warren Buffett of “lucky sperm club” fame has left millions to his kids).

And leaving entire fortunes to kids can wreak havoc on their lives.

Is there a “right” amount of money to leave to kids?

Article Courtesy of
http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2010/05/06/the-downside-of-inherited-wealth/

Women's History Month (March 2010) - Financial Secrets from Mellody Hobson ... and it includes buying shoes ....

Her Secrets
Act like a Depression Baby: When the household bills arrive, like her phone or cable, Hobson pays more than what's due, so she won't get another bill for a while. "It may be ridiculous, but I sleep better if I'm prepared for the worst-case scenario," she says.

Aspire to ownership: Hobson takes part of her pay in company stock and saves more with each raise. "I know these days there's a big move to diversify your investments — but if you think you work for a good business that has wonderful prospects, put some of your money there," she advises. "The wealthiest families didn't get there on paychecks alone, but by owning all or part of their companies."

Splurge on something practical: Hobson admits she has too many leather blazers. But in the "very tailored" banking world, she explains, it's how she shows her personality yet stays "acceptable."

Get your $$$ worth: Hobson won't spend on "consumables." This means she avoids pricey restaurants but will splurge on her home and clothes. "I'd rather be sitting on it or wearing it than eating it

As president of Ariel Investments, Mellody is responsible for firm-wide management and strategic planning, overseeing all operations of Ariel’s business outside of research and portfolio management. Additionally, she serves as chairman of the board of trustees for Ariel Investment Trust. Mellody has become a nationally recognized voice on financial literacy and investor education. She is a regular financial contributor on ABC’s Good Morning America, a featured columnist in Black Enterprise magazine as well as a spokesperson for both the annual Ariel/Schwab Black Investor Survey and the 2009 Ariel/Hewitt study, “401(k) Plans in Living Color.” Beyond her work at Ariel, Mellody is a director of three public companies: DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.; The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and Starbucks Corporation. She also serves on the Investment Company Institute’s board of governors and the SEC Investor Advisory Committee, and is a director of various professional and civic organizations. Mellody earned her undergraduate degree from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of International Relations and Public Policy and is a former trustee of the University.

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Be Eco Friendly - Drive a Porsche - Yes a Porsche!

For the Sports and Entertainment Professional - A standard Builder's Contract?

You are celebrating the contract that you just signed and your signing bonus is burning a hole in your pocket. You’ve decided that you want to build a new house, renting just isn’t the same as owning.

There is no such thing as a standard builder’s contract. This is not a player’s contract where all your agent has to do is negotiate salary amounts, bonuses and incentives. While builder’s contracts vary from state to state, they always are drafted to protect the builder and not you. You have hired an agent to get you the best deal with your team, you have financial advisors looking after your investments, you have doctors and trainers caring for your body; make sure that you have an attorney, not necessarily your agent and or manager, but an attorney who specializes in real estate negotiate your purchase contract before you sign it.

Below are some items that you need to consider in your contract. Buying a new home is one of the biggest investments that you will make in your lifetime, make sure you protect yourself as much as you can.
Financing
Although you may not think it is necessary, consult with your bank or financial institution and have them pre-qualify you for a mortgage. This will help you determine how much you can afford to spend and still live comfortably. Most contracts don’t contain a contingency for financing which means that if you can’t qualify for a mortgage when the house is ready, you lose your deposit. While you probably can’t change this language in the contract, you can help yourself by understanding what it says.
Deposit
You want to keep your deposit as small as possible, preferably less than 10% of the purchase price. The builder is also going to want a deposit on your upgrades, try to keep that number to 25% or less. Make sure that whoever is holding the deposit has to keep the deposit in an escrow account, that you are earning interest, and that the builder cannot use the funds for construction. You don’t want to be financing the builder and have him go bankrupt with your money.
Inspections
Make sure the contract allows you to periodically inspect the home with your own contractor or building professional to ensure that the builder is doing a good job and constructing a solid house. I would inspect the wiring, plumbing, air conditioning ducts, and the insulation before the contractor seals them in with the drywall. This will give you an opportunity to get the builder to make some of the repairs before the house is completed.
Once the house is completed you should have a final opportunity to inspect the house and provide the builder with a punch-list of items that need to be corrected. It is very important that you carefully inspect the house because after closing you cannot to object to any item which you could have damaged moving in to the home. The contract should give the builder no more than thirty days to complete the repairs.
Default Provisions
What if you are traded or even worse released?
Make sure the contract provides that in the event that you default that the builder is limited to taking your deposit and cannot sue you for specific performance to make you complete the purchase or sue you for damages. You want to make sure that the worst-case scenario is you lose your deposit. Try and get the builder to make your contract assignable. That way if you can find someone to buy the house you will not forfeit your deposit.
Mirror Image and the Models
Keep in mind that model homes are professionally decorated, outfitted with the finest upgrades and presented to make the rooms look bigger and better than what it may look like when your home is built. The builder has the right to reverse the image of your house once it is built, that means the garage or the bedrooms may be flipped from the model. Have the contract provide that the builder must have the plans approved by you before construction can commence. Check the contract and identity what is standard and what is extra. Try and get the builder to throw in a few upgrades at no extra charge, if you don’t try, you never know.

Finally, do some research on the builder. Make sure that he has a good reputation and is experienced. Remember, once you sign the contract you are basically married to the builder until your home is built and your punch-list has been completed. Don’t let anyone tell you that the builder doesn’t negotiate the contract. Everything is negotiable. Remember that building a new home should be one of the most rewarding things you do in life.

AHB Custom Home Builders have completed many homes for sports and entertainment figures with happy results. We provide the support and expertise required to complete your home on schedule and on budget. We recognize the need for privacy and logistics that are usually required for your transaction.

For more information contact Diane Fudge 404-886-6716 or EMAIL.

Article Coutesy of Pro Athletes Only

When to invest in real estate - What about now?

THESE FACTORS MAKE FOR A GREAT INVESTOR REAL ESTATE DEAL

I know it sounds strange, but it's true. Today's dire economic circumstances have conspired to produce the perfect real estate storm. At least that's the case if you are in the market to find a bargain. Huge inventory, low interest rates, and highly motivated sellers all combine to make this an ideal time to pick up a house, or two, or even three. But before we all rush out and buy the first house we can find, let's look at the four most important factors of an investor real estate deal:

** LOCATION

If you are looking for a rental property that will pay for itself on a monthly basis, you may be best off looking in lower middle class neighborhoods where most of the owners occupy their homes and keep their homes in relatively good condition.Gang graffiti and boarded-up doors and windows are signs to avoid, while accessibility to transportation and relatively recent construction make for good rental income properties. Good public schools are also an important feature for many prospective renters.Another desirable feature related to location is a neighborhood where most of the homes are similar in size and amenities. You want to buy in a neighborhood where the other properties won't pull down your value due to wide-ranging sales prices.

** CONDITION

Try to avoid neighborhoods where most of the homes are less than three bedrooms and two baths, or where most of the construction is pre-1950. Homes more than fifty years old will eventually need almost all systems updated, and that is an expense to avoid in a rental situation.Homes less than ten years old have almost all up-to-date systems, and shouldn't need major renovations any time soon. In addition, newer homes sometimes offer space for expansion, an inexpensive way to add a bedroom or office.In an ideal situation, the home should need no work before the renter moves in. However, in today's real estate market, the condition is where you are going to find the greatest degree of variation. At no time in the past thirty years has there been such a large number of homes on the market needing significant repairs.Many of these homes are bank-owned, and some are uninhabitable. Others may need nothing more than paint and carpet. Being able to distinguish between the two extremes is critical to your success in finding a great deal. At the very least, make all offers contingent upon a full inspection of the property and a satisfactory estimate for all needed repairs.

** PRICE

The glut of bank-owned homes has, in my opinion, kicked the floor out from under the Atlanta residential real estate market. We don't know what anything is worth, because so many of the comparable sales that appraisers use are distressed sales.But if you can get a price discount in the 40% to 50% range, it really doesn't take a great investor to see that there is plenty of room for upside profit, both in the monthly cash flow and in the long term resale price.I believe that most lenders had, until recently, hoped for a "Resolution Trust Company style" bailout from the federal government. But now that the Obama administration has indicated that troubled bank assets will not be purchased directly, pressure to sell is mounting on a daily basis. Seller motivation is growing.Investors making initial offers on bank-owned homes should be especially careful to stay in touch with the current market of bank resales. Discounts of 25% are not uncommon, and sales at 50 cents on the dollar are being seen by investors. My advice is to start low, then be prepared to negotiate up.

** FINANCING

This is the big wildcard for investment property, because the current Fannie Mae "four property rule" has kept many veteran investors on the sidelines. But if FNMA were to return to the "ten property" limit, or if banks began offering any kind of reasonable seller-financing, the floor under housing prices in Atlanta could be re-established fairly quickly.All but the most ardent "doom and gloomers" believe that the current condition of variable home values will end sooner rather than later, and anyone who can lock in a low price now will be glad they did. But the real key is how to finance that low price.A super-low price combined with a great financing makes for a fabulous real estate investment opportunity. And I believe the solution to this problem is seller financing. I am already starting to get reports of banks selling their houses and agreeing to carry back some sort of financing.The key for investors is not necessarily a 30-year fixed rate loan at 6% interest with nothing down, although that would be nice. Instead, the key is for banks to be able to convert their non-performing assets (the vacant houses) into performing assets (loans requiring a substantial down payment and reasonable qualification guidelines).These loans can be good for the banks and good for the borrower, and they could still be attractive with terms as short as five to seven years. The investment community is ready, but needs the financing to act. Once the banks make this leap of logic, the huge oversupply of vacant houses in Atlanta can begin to disappear, and we can get on with the business of re-establishing a market for real estate.

Article Courtesy of http://money99.com/content/view/134/1/

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Do you feel wealthy? - It just may depends on how much money you make and where you live.

A year ago, Wealth Report readers told me how much money it took to be considered “rich” in their town. The answers ranged from a $500,000 income in Manhattan to $1 million to $2 million in total net worth in Kansas City.

The point, of course, is that wealth is relative. Being “rich” depends on where you live.
Now, the folks at U.S. News & World Report have come up with a more scientific process of defining “rich” in various towns. Basically, they used census data to calculate the top 20% of earners and top 5% of earners in 40 metro areas. Then they did some division and multiplying to calculate top-wealth levels for childless couples and families of four (methodology fanatics can click here. Be warned, as readers astutely pointed out to me, the numbers are averages, which can be highly skewed by extreme earners).

Here is how much household income it takes to be in top 5% in the following communities:

Atlanta–Couple (no kids), $268,264. Family of four, $536,528.

Colorado Springs, Colo.–Couple, $207,472. Family, $414,943.

Dallas–Couple, $267,344. Family, $534,688.

Honolulu, Hawaii–Couple, $235,190. Family, $470,380.

Kansas City, Kan.–Couple, $219,300. Family, $438,600.

Las Vegas–Couple, $240,359. Family, $480,718.

Los Angeles–Couple, $315,996. Family, $631,992.

New York–Couple, $359,494. Family, $718,989.

San Francisco–Couple, $359,061. Family, $718,123.

Washington, D.C. –Couple, $347,917. Couple, $490,436.

I don’t doubt the tabulations. But I would bet that people living in these communities with the above incomes don’t feel “rich.” Americans always look up when it comes to wealth. So if you asked someone in Colorado Springs with a household income is $414,943 or more, they probably would think of themselves as upper middle class. And they probably wouldn’t guess they were in the top 5%.

Then again, in the current crisis, maybe those with incomes of $400,000 or more would consider themselves rich.

To read complete article:
http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2008/10/15/what-it-takes-to-be-rich-in-your-town-part-2/

What about trust? --- I mean a family trust.

Not Bob Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, or Shaquil O'Neal --- you may still benefit from a family trust.

It used to be that only the extremely wealthy set up trust funds for their children and grandchildren. Today, with ordinary people becoming millionaires through the increased property value of their homes, stocks, and retirements accounts. Trust funds are becoming more commonplace. Parents and grandparents in this category are undertaking estate planning to preserve their wealth and minimize death taxes.

The term family trust refers to a discretionary trust set up to hold a family's assets or to conduct a family business. Generally, they are established for asset protection or tax purposes.

A family trust:

• is generally established by a family member for the benefit of members of the 'family group';
• avoid unnecessary stress by dealing with inheritance issues before death.
• gain peace of mind in the knowledge that property will pass upon the terms of the trust after death.
• avoid delays after death. Properties in Family Trusts may be sold without a Grant of Representation. The trustees can sign all the paperwork.
• can be the subject of a family trust election which provides it with certain tax advantages, provided that the trust passes the family control test and makes distributions of trust income only to beneficiaries of the trust who are within the 'family group';
• can assist in protecting the family group's assets from the liabilities of one or more of the family members (for instance, in the event of a family member's bankruptcy or insolvency);
• properties in Family Trusts may be sold without a Grant of Representation. The trustees can sign all the paperwork.
• provides a mechanism to pass family assets to future generations; and
  can provide a means of accessing favourable taxation treatment by ensuring all family members use their income tax "tax-free thresholds".
• benefit from tax advantages. In most cases, there is no Capital Gains Tax or Income Tax payable by transferring your home into a Family Trust. Inheritance Tax will remain unaffected.

A family trust has many other potential benefits, including avoiding issues such as challenges to the will following a death of a senior member of the family.

Important note
This page contains only the briefest of summaries relating to Family Trusts. It is not a substitute for full legal advice. Advice can only be given after consideration of all relevant facts. This is a complex area of law and therefore any planning should be done on the advice of an expert, in order to ensure as far as possible the protection of the estate.