Inheritance is meant to be a gift—a way to pass on your legacy and provide for the people you care about most. But without the right planning, it can quickly turn into confusion, conflict, and costly mistakes. At Humphrey Berger & Associates, we often see the same issues arise. The good news? With proactive estate planning, they’re all avoidable. The #1 Inheritance Mistake: No Estate Plan The most common—and most costly—mistake is failing to create a written estate plan. With

It’s easy to put off estate planning. For many, it’s one of those “I’ll get to it later” tasks—often pushed aside until something forces the conversation. In fact, a recent survey found that 43% of Americans without a will plan to wait for a medical diagnosis before creating one . On the surface, that may seem reasonable. But in reality, this “wait-and-see” approach can create serious and avoidable challenges for both you and your loved ones. The Risk of Waiting Too Long Esta

As of January 1, 2026 , California is reinstating Medi-Cal asset limits for long-term care eligibility. After a temporary suspension, the return of these limits means that a client’s asset position can now disqualify them from receiving Medi-Cal support for nursing home and long-term care costs unless proper planning is in place. This change has significant implications for retirement and estate planning strategies: Asset Restructuring Matters More Than Ever Clients who pre