ProVisors Member Thought Leadership
Latest from ProVisors Member Thought Leadership
What are the Different Types of Trusts?

Trusts are a great option for you to control your assets, bypass probate, and distribute inheritance to beneficiaries. When you decide to create one for your future, you may wonder what type of trust is best suited for your needs. There are four basic types of trusts that you can create: living, testamentary, revocable, and irrevocable trusts. There are subcategories…
#1 Ingredient for Client Connection: Empathy
“Attention without feeling, I began to learn, is only a report. An openness — an empathy — was necessary if the attention was to matter.” ~ Mary Oliver
When we listen – intently and with care – we are better professionals and better people.
I preach this. I don’t always practice it. But in my work as a residential Realtor,…
Special Needs Trusts: Consider These Things

If you’re a parent of a special needs child, you want to be sure that they are taken care of. A special needs trust (SNT) typically is the outcome of a malpractice suit, for example, a child did not receive enough oxygen during the delivery process and as a result has developmental issues. The money from the suit then goes…
Avoid These Estate-Planning Mistakes
When many people hear the words “estate planning,” they assume it’s just for the wealthy. But that’s not the case because everyone can benefit from an estate plan. And when you’re creating one, you’ll want to avoid some common mistakes.
Before we look at those mistakes, let’s go over what estate planning is designed to accomplish. Essentially, an estate plan…
How to Make Negotiation Conversations Less Awkward

A special BONUS episode of the Breaking Money Silence® Podcast Series on Negotiating is an interview with Erin Lowry. I interviewed Erin who is the author of several books including her latest, Broke Millennial Talks Money: Scripts, Stories, and Advice to Navigate Awkward Financial Conversations. Erin shares how she struggled with underearning when she began her career and offers practical…
How to Set Up a Living Trust in California

Living trusts, or revocable trust, are a great option for folks who want to distribute inheritance to their children or loved ones after they pass. Unlike an irrevocable trust, a living trust is one that can be changed during a person’s lifetime. Learn what a living trust is and the importance of creating one, and view our guide to setting…
Strengthen your ‘Three-legged Stool’ for Retirement
For many years, Americans provided for their retirement needs through three sources: employer-sponsored pension plans, Social Security income, and savings and investments accumulated through employer plans or individual accounts – the so-called “three-legged stool.” But today, that stool is shakier than it used to be. What can you do to strengthen it?
To begin with, all three legs of the…
5 Reasons Millennials Need Life Insurance (Even if You Don’t Have Kids)
Millennials have student loan debt, medical insurance, rent, utility bills, and not to mention, many concerts to attend. You want to travel and go to the new Vietnamese restaurant that opened up in the city and live the work hard, play hard lifestyle.
You have a lot of financial priorities right now. In your eyes, life insurance is not very…
Watch for Frogs When Negotiating

The sixth episode of the Breaking Money Silence® Podcast Series on Negotiating is an interview with Julian Portilla, Associate Professor and Director of Mediation & Dialogue Center at Champlain College. He shares his insights into consensus building with large groups around complex issues and gives advice on how to be an effective negotiator.
Here are 5 things you will learn …