In addition to assisting our clients with issues relating to their insurance and employee benefits, we regularly advise and assist them with a variety of other personal, estate and financial planning matters:

• Preparation and Execution of Wills:  If you own an apartment or home, or have invested significant funds into bank, money-market, mutual fund or other such investment accounts, it is generally advisable to have a current will.  A will is an important planning tool for young and old alike, and optimally should be prepared when you are in good health.  Failure to have a will may result in delays in the distribution of your estate, higher taxes, disputes among family and friends about your wishes, and other problems.  We can review your estate planning goals with you and prepare a will that best meets those goals;

• Health Care Proxies, Powers of Attorney, Medical Directives:  In addition to preparing a will, you may want to designate a friend or family member to make decisions about your care or treatment or your financial affairs in the event that you become physically or mentally incapacitated.  You may also wish to state specific preferences about certain kinds of treatment that you desire (or wish to be withheld), or about whether you prefer burial or cremation.  Written statements about your designated decision-makers or personal preferences may avoid confusion and disputes about your wishes when you are no longer able to communicate those wishes yourself.  We can help you prepare health care proxies, powers of attorney, and medical directives to carry out your wishes.

• Cooperative Apartment, Condominium Apartment and Other Real Estate Transactions:  If you are considering the purchase or sale of property in the New York metropolitan area, we can guide you through the completion of the transaction.  We can review cooperative and condominium plan documents, prepare and review the sales contract, communicate with the other parties to your transaction (such as your real estate agent, your bank, the coop board, and the attorney for the person on the other side of the transaction) to facilitate the prompt completion of your purchase/sale, and represent you at the closing.