As you get older and start to accumulate financial and other assets it is a critical part of planing to consider your estate. A big part of that planing is having a will. Some people may not need a will if they dont have minor kids and use other means to pass property like beneficiary designations, joint tenancy or joint accounts, living trusts, etc, etc. Estate planing is critical to preserving and passing wealth and providing for you family and especially MINOR children. Only one in four Americans has a will. But writing one is easier than you think In a new survey, fewer than half of respondents said they knew their parents’ wishes for their assets. https://www.cnbc.com/select/why-you-need-a-will/ (BOLD is my opinion OR what I consider important content) (NOTE: I have edited this little article to remove sales content...if you want to see it you can click on the link) "Dying without a will can leave a knotty financial mess for your loved ones to unravel. But only one in four Americans has a valid will, according to a new survey from Western & Southern Life Insurance. Barely half of respondents (53%) reported being confident that they understood their spouses’ wishes. Even fewer (48%) could say the same about their parents. Nearly a third of those surveyed (30%) admitted they’ve never discussed end-of-life financial plans with their family members. “People don’t want to talk about a will for emotional reasons,” Mary Clements Evans, a certified financial planner and president of Evans Wealth Strategies, told CNBC Select. “They don’t want to think about their death or their spouse’s death.” Over half (54%) of respondents admitted discomfort kept them from broaching the topic. But the silence around estate planning can have devastating consequences: Most Americans struggle financially when a family member dies and they’re left grappling with both funeral costs and the loss of income. While many count on life insurance to cover expenses, a quarter of respondents said they faced difficulty accessing death benefits or other critical funds. Close to 40% turn to credit cards and personal loans to close the gap, according to the report. Without a will, your estate could be tied up in a lengthy probate process, Evans said, “and the state gets to decide who gets your assets.” State intestacy laws have specific rules for spouses, children and siblings that might not align with your interests. Wills FAQs Do I have to have a will? You’re not legally required to have a will. Without one, however, you won’t have control over who inherits your assets or becomes guardian to your children. In addition, a will allows you to appoint an executor and can greatly simplify the probate process. Is an online will a good idea? An online will is an affordable solution for many people, especially those who are hesitant about the time commitment and expense involved in traditional estate planning or are uncomfortable discussing end-of-life topics with strangers. However, people with large estates, complex family dynamics or minor children may need personalized care from a qualified estate planning attorney. And even if you choose an online option, you should still consult family members and experts about your wishes. Are online wills legit? As long as it meets all of your state’s legal requirements, an online will is as binding as one prepared by an attorney. In many cases, you’ll need to print the will and sign it in front of two witnesses who are not beneficiaries. In some states, the relevant parties can sign electronically. In others, it needs to be in ink and notarized. When should I update my will? You should review and update your will every three to five years, according to AARP. You may also want to revisit it in the wake of life changes, like the birth of a child, a marriage or divorce, or a move to a new state." MY COMMENT Doing estate planing is critical for your family and your children. Especially if you have minor children. One important part of a will will designate who you would like to be the guardian or custodian of your kids if some thing happens to you. You can also designate in a will who you would want to manage your minor kids money and assets. The physical custodian of your kids (guardian) and who manages their money while minors (guardian of their estate) can be two different people or the same person.
I really like this new idea from COSTCO.....what an amazing company. BUT....come on split that stock....LOL. Costco to open new stand-alone gas station Members-only 40-pump facility coming to Mission Viejo without attached retail warehouse https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/costco-open-new-stand-alone-gas-station
NVDA is very popular within this thread. Here is a brief article about Jensen's recent trip to Europe to seek partnerships related to the company. I found it interesting on a number of levels. He clearly realizes the benefit to expanding and developing in this area. He is not drinking the "Kool-Aid" of ignoring the importance of the company having those global partnerships. Jensen realizes that some one is going to fill that void, and he is obviously wanting his company to be in the door first. Smart business move. Jensen also pushed the company as more than just chips and is seeking to expand the AI there and is likely going to pick up many new customers. He also briefly touched on the China/AI race. I suspect he realizes with all that has gone on there with some restrictions, that he is going to want to fill in some of those gaps with new partners. He is thinking way ahead of most. The thing I liked about most of it, is he is not sitting around waiting to see what may/may not happen when the dust settles. He is out actively doing things to put the company in a better position. I like that he is focused on the business and not the noise. Anyway, I figure NVDA holders might like the article. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/14/nvidia-what-i-learned-following-jensen-huang-around-europe.html
We have mentioned international equities on occasion within the thread. I have kind of kept an eye on them over the past year or so, simply out of curiosity in comparison to the US. Here are a few charts showing some interesting numbers. Of course this is over a short period of time, but I was a bit surprised that it went back to 2022. It will be interesting to see if this holds over a longer period. I certainly would not bet against the US. I also don't think it is a bad thing to occur. It might drive some competition further, some new business and partnerships, and some more innovation. Maybe "rising tides lift all boats" to be beneficial on a wider scale. Chart #1. #2. #3.
And Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads out there. The single most important job you have....enjoy it. Time flies.
