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The significant appreciation in equity markets has left many investors holding assets with substantial built-in gains. In many cases, tax basis is very low relative to current value. This creates a central tension in estate and tax planning, specifically, whether to recognize capital gains during life or preserve assets for a potential step-up in basis at death.

For many estate plans, the default instinct is to hold appreciated assets until death to secure a basis step-up. That instinct is…
Continue Reading Gifting Appreciated Securities vs. Waiting for a Step-up in Basis

Milwaukee is again facing a nearly $100 million dollar gap between what it wants to fund and the cash it will have in the coming year.Despite the shortfall, the Milwaukee Police Department’s budget is likely to significantly increase.

Proposed areas for cuts include election operations and civic engagement, library hours, sanitation and street maintenance.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson is seeking input from city residents as his office works to close the $96 million dollar gap. The city has posted

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Continue Reading Milwaukee Mayor Asks Residents to Weigh In on Budget Cuts as MPD’s Share of Expenditures Swells

If your typical Wednesday involves writing a college tuition check in the morning and interviewing in-home nurses for your parents by lunch, then you are officially part of the “Sandwich Generation.” It is a role rooted in deep family loyalty, but let’s be honest: Being in the middle can feel more like a pressure cooker than a privilege. Between the emotional weight and the financial complexity, it is easy to feel like you are constantly reacting to the next

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Continue Reading The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide: Protecting Your Family and Your Sanity

Over the past few years, we’ve seen an increase in hospitals and health care systems using credit tenant lease (“CTL”) financing for new outpatient projects. Below is an overview of CTL financing.

  • Overview – CTL financing has been around for many years. In some circles, it’s referred to as lease financing or synthetic lease financing. Regardless of the name, it’s a unique way for hospitals to tap into long-term, low-cost financing based on the hospital’s credit profile. This type

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    Continue Reading Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing: What Hospitals Need to Know About Credit Tenant Lease Financing

    Bypass the delays and costs of Wisconsin probate without losing an ounce of control over your estate. Here is how to protect your family legacy on your own terms.
    You don’t have to give up control of your assets today to protect your family tomorrow. Discover how to use Wisconsin law to completely bypass the delays, privacy loss, and costs of probate court while retaining 100% ownership and management of your estate for the rest of your life.
    Key

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    Continue Reading How to Avoid Wisconsin Probate without Losing Control of Your Family Legacy

    When a loved one passes away, families are often left with emotional stress, financial responsibilities, and legal questions. One of the most common legal processes families may face is Legal Probate. Probate is the court-supervised process of validating a will, identifying assets, paying debts, and distributing property to the rightful heirs or beneficiaries.
    While probate can feel overwhelming, understanding the basic steps, expected timeline, and common mistakes can help families move through the process with more confidence.

    What Is

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    Continue Reading Legal Probate Explained: Steps, Timeline, and Common Mistakes to Avoid

    It’s not just a crying baby keeping many new parents up at night—rising education costs have made planning for a child’s future a top concern. Section 529 accounts have long served as a powerful tax‑advantaged tool to help families save for education, allowing investment earnings to grow tax‑free when used for qualifying expenses.
    What Is a Section 529 Account?
    A 529 account, named for the section of the Tax Code under which such accounts have been granted tax

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    Continue Reading Section 529 Accounts: Expanded Education Uses and New Tax‑Free Planning Opportunities

    What is the single biggest benefit of the Florida Homestead Exemption? If you ask the average homeowner in Boca Raton or Sunny Isles Beach, they will tell you about property tax savings. While saving money is great, they are missing the most critical “superpower” of Florida law.
    Beyond the yearly tax breaks, Florida Homestead Exemption asset protection provides an unlimited shield for your primary residence, protecting it from forced sale by most judgment creditors. In a litigious

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    Continue Reading The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homestead Exemption Asset Protection

    Why Digital Asset Succession Illinois Matters More Than Ever
    When most Illinois business owners think about succession planning, they focus on tangible assets such as real estate, inventory, equipment, and bank accounts. While those assets are important, they no longer reflect the full value of a modern business.
    Today, digital asset succession planning is critical because a significant portion of your company’s value exists online. This includes proprietary software, client databases, online revenue streams, and cryptocurrency holdings.
    For many

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    Continue Reading Beyond the Brick and Mortar: Digital Asset Succession for Illinois Business Owners

    If you’re a homeowner in Illinois, especially in areas like Lake County, there’s an important warning you shouldn’t ignore: the property deed scam Illinois residents are receiving by mail is back—and it’s targeting unsuspecting homeowners with official-looking notices.
    These solicitations can be confusing, and even savvy professionals have been caught off guard. As part of smart estate planning, protecting your assets doesn’t stop with legal documents—it also means staying alert to scams that try to exploit public records.

    What

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    Continue Reading Property Deed Scam Alert: What Illinois Homeowners Need to Know

    Employees who need to take time off from work due to a medical condition often find themselves confused about the various types of leave available to them. With a whole array of different acronyms (FMLA, STD, LTD, PTO, LWOP, etc.) swirling around HR documents, approvals or denials from leave administrators, and seemingly contradictory communications from different sources, it’s very easy to feel totally overwhelmed and lost at a time when you are already experiencing some stressful health-related life event.
    Continue Reading What is the Difference between FMLA and STD/LTD Leave?

    If you are investigating or planning a move out of the United States and its territories for your retirement, there are some important facts to know before you go. Below are some common questions regarding this situation, with answers and useful links to additional important information.

    Note: the rules for those receiving Social Security Disability benefits, survivor benefits, and dependent benefits are very different and are not included in this blog post. Neither are the rules applicable to…
    Continue Reading Planning To Move Abroad? What To Know About Your Social Security Retirement Benefits

    When families blend through second marriages, later-in-life relationships, or remarriage after divorce, estate planning becomes more complex, and more important. This is especially true when one or both spouses have children from prior relationships.

    A recent Wisconsin Court of Appeals decision, Sterling L. North v. Estate of William James North II, 2024AP1908 (Wis. Ct. App. Dec. 30, 2025) shows how a lack of planning can result in an unintended division of property between the spouses’ children, particularly when…
    Continue Reading Wisconsin’s 120-Hour Rule, Survivorship Marital Property, and Blended Families

    Illinois Probate Attorney: 5 Mistakes to Avoid with Aging Parents
    Helping aging parents navigate their golden years is a profound responsibility, but without the right legal safeguards, many families inadvertently walk into court-supervised nightmares. In Illinois, when an elderly parent experiences cognitive decline or passes away without a comprehensive plan, their estate is frequently plunged into the public court system. This process can drain family finances, spark emotional disputes, and drag on for months or even years.
    Working proactively

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    Continue Reading Illinois Probate Attorney: 5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid

    For many high-net-worth families and business owners, the shift happens gradually.
    Your parents—who once handled everything—begin to need help. Maybe it starts with small things, like managing bills or attending doctor’s appointments. But over time, those responsibilities grow.
    This is where estate planning for aging parents becomes critical.
    Without proper planning, families often find themselves navigating court processes, probate delays, and unnecessary financial exposure—all during an already emotional time. The reality is, estate planning for aging parents is not

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    Continue Reading Estate Planning for Aging Parents: Avoid Probate Nightmares

    Estate Planning for Blended Families: The High-Earner’s Guide to Protecting Every Heir
    When it comes to estate planning for blended families is proving to be a watershed year. For high-earning professionals—surgeons with private practices, partners at prestigious law firms, and C-suite executives—the complexity of family dynamics is now meeting a shifting legal and tax landscape. If you are navigating a second marriage while protecting children from a previous relationship, the standard “I love you” will is no longer a

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    Continue Reading The “Fairness” Trap: Estate Planning for Blended Families & High-Earning Professionals