Our Services

No one likes to think about the fact that they will one day die, but it is important that you carefully plan your estate and make sure it is left in the best of hands so that when you or a loved one does pass away, those left behind can focus on grieving and healing rather than worrying about creditors and the allocation of assets. We here at Schaff Planning Group have been estate planning for over forty years, and you can trust that we will do everything in our power to take care of you and your loved ones’ estate planning needs.

While it is reasonable to hope that such a thing should never happen to you or
the people you care about, it is an unfortunate fact that sometimes our minds and bodies will deteriorate to the point where we cannot make important decisions for ourselves. A General Durable Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone whom you can trust to make legal and financial decisions on your behalf should you ever be unable to do so yourself. Schaff Planning Group is more than qualified to help you through the entire process of drafting and finalizing your General Durable Power of Attorney

There are certain decisions in life that no one ever wants to make. Among these
are, “Is it time to pull the plug on mom?” or “If dad were awake, would he want a feeding tube put in?” These situations are absolutely devastating, and while an Advanced Health Care Directive (AHCD) can’t prevent them, it can make them easier. It is a document you can put in place that clarifies what actions concerning your health that you want taken under certain conditions. If you are in a coma or otherwise incapable of making decisions for yourself, an AHCD prevents your children or your friends from having to ask and answer those terrible questions. For more nuanced questions that may not be predictable, an AHCD also puts in place a health care agent, a trusted individual, usually though not necessarily a spouse or an adult child, who can make healthcare decisions on your behalf to avoid letting the state or relatives who may not have your best interest at heart make such decisions.

Every good mystery movie contains at least one “reading of the will” scene, but what it doesn’t include is a good “writing of the will” scene. Creating a clear and concise Last Will and Testament is incredibly important, but it doesn’t need to be difficult. We here at Schaff Planning Group are experienced in drafting, revising, and finalizing wills that satisfy our clients and leave them confident that when the time comes, their estate will be handled in perfect accordance with their desires.

People are sometimes afraid that if they make a trust for their children or grandchildren, their descendants will grow into entitled “trust fund babies,” but in reality, trusts are a very safe way to set aside money or other assets for beneficiaries who are too young to be able to properly manage an inheritance. If you have young children or grandchildren you want to whom you want to leave property, we can help you set up a trust for them.

A probate is the process in which the assets of a deceased person are collected, inventoried, and allocated to the appropriate parties. This can be a frustrating and often painful process. We can’t bring your family back to you, but we can work with you to handle their estate professionally and appropriately so that you have more time and energy to focus on grieving and healing.

You live in a world of uncertainties, and some of the most intimidating uncertainties all revolve around your financial assets. Will your family have enough money to support themselves if you pass away unexpectedly? Will you have enough money to support yourself through retirement if you outlive your life expectancy? What about taxes and the IRS? We here at Schaff Planning Group refuse to make decisions out of fear and encourage our clients not to, either, but we do believe in making decisions that can mitigate uncertainty and offer peace of mind. If you want to take control of your financial future, we here at Schaff Planning Group will be happy to help you every step of the way.

The world of stocks and of bonds and of mutual funds can be overwhelming and at times difficult to navigate, so if you are looking for someone to help you plan the best way to keep your money safe so that it is available for you when you need it, we here at Schaff Planning Group can help.

Everyone talks about insurance, but not as many people know about the benefits of having an annuity. The purpose of an annuity is to provide funds for the annuitant so that they don’t outlive their financial means. There are a variety of options that can be customized to fit your specific needs, from fixed joint life annuities to variable refund of premium annuities. If you or a loved one are considering the merits of purchasing an annuity, Schaff Planning Group will be happy to help you through the whole process.

One of the greatest responsibilities we all share is our responsibility to our families. One of the greatest concerns that faces us all is therefore the possibility that we will die or otherwise lose our ability to provide for our loved ones while they are still relying on us. Life insurance can offer you peace of mind and ensure that those who rely on you will never be left in need. If you think it is time to take out a policy, whether a temporary “term” policy to make sure your kids can finish school, a permanent “whole life” policy to provide for your last expenses, or something in between, we will work with you to get you what you need.

Let’s face it. The only certainties in this world are death and taxes. Like it or not, every year around the same time, the IRS is going to come knocking. There are a few people in this world that enjoy doing their own taxes, and if you’re one of them, great! You won’t need to read any further. If, however, you are not one of those people, consider contacting us about handling your taxes. We can’t get rid of them, but we can make them easier for you.