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Given today's economy, it's fair to say that we are all more concerned about our financial situation than we have been in the past. Our awareness of the need to save and plan ahead has been heightened, and everyone, it seems, is looking for ways to economize.

As someone who works in the financial services realm, few things could give me more pleasure than this collective impulse toward saving, investing, and planning for the future. The focus on protecting your assets ties in nicely with the idea of protecting your income. You may have considered what would happen if you were downsized, but perhaps you've neglected to plan for what could happen if you became disabled. Understandably, this is not a popular subject, but it is one we must all consider.

Trusts are a great way to put conditions on how, when, and to whom your assets will be distributed after you pass away. However, there are several options and specific terms to know when it comes to setting up a trust, and many people aren't sure of the best path forward.

To help explain, I've put together some frequently asked questions and answers on the subject.

Due diligence is a vital step in the process of acquiring a business. As a buyer, you’ll want to ensure that you know exactly what you’re purchasing prior to agreeing to the transaction—this not only includes assets and future sales forecasts, but also liabilities, contracts, employee agreements, litigation risks, intellectual property, and much more.

By doing your homework in advance, you’ll not only be prepared to deal with any potential issues, you will also have a better sense of the value of the company you’re hoping to purchase. Your due diligence will vary depending on the type of company you’re purchasing, and the type of industry you’re in, but in general, here are some of the key areas you’ll want to investigate:

With every news story about the latest Powerball jackpot, it's only natural to wonder, "What would I do if I won the lottery?" Although your chances of hitting the jackpot may be slim, a financial windfall could come to you through more ordinary means, such as the settlement of a lawsuit, a severance package, a family inheritance, or simply a larger-than-expected tax refund. Unfortunately, along with the obvious rewards, a windfall can be accompanied by plenty of potential problems.

You may have heard that lawmakers recently voted to push forward a proposed "Millionaire's Tax" in the state of Massachusetts. Wondering what this means, and when it could possibly impact Massachusetts residents?

To shed some light on the topic, I've put together a list of frequently asked questions and answers:

Employee benefit plans have their own set of complex laws and regulations. But did you know that even small plans can be subject to audits?

Generally, if you have 100 eligible participants in your plan at the start of the year, your plan will require an audit. Note that this number includes all participants who are eligible—not just those who are enrolled.

You've probably heard how important it is to establish and maintain an emergency fund. Unfortunately, most people don't fully realize this until a money emergency is upon them. Are you financially prepared for a leaky roof? How about a broken-down car? If you lost your job, how long would you be able to support yourself and your family until you got a new one?

An emergency fund is money that you've set aside to be used in these critical situations, be it to handle a minor home repair or to pay for something more serious, like medical bills. Despite the clear importance of having an emergency fund, however, more than three in five Americans have accumulated no savings for unforeseen expenses, according to a recent Bankrate report.

If you are one of the 60% who don't have an emergency fund, I've outined 4 easy ways that you can prepare for the unexpected:

The IRS recently released an update to its federal estate tax regulations, relaxing the rules on making a late portability election to a descendant's estate.

Currently, the federal estate tax exemption is $5.4 million, meaning that when a person dies, they will only pay federal estate tax (up to 40%) if the value of their estate exceeds $5.4 million. In 2011, the IRS introduced a concept called 'portability' to the federal estate tax exemption, and has now added an additional rule to allow for a late portability election. Here's what you should know:

You may not be quite ready to sell your business yet, but if you're considering the possibility, now is the right time to start planning. As I've discussed in previous blog posts, selling your business is a process, not an event. One of the most important parts of that process is determining the value of your company.

So how do you know what your company is worth? Many deal values are simply multiples of Adjusted EBITDA, so it's critical to understand what this number is, and how to arrive at it. Here are the top 4 things you should know about EBITDA and how it relates to the sale of your business:

You've worked long and hard and are nearing retirement age. Like many other baby boomers, with your kids out of the house and a surplus of empty space and time, you may be thinking about moving. To help you make up your mind—or make your transition go as smoothly as possible—we've compiled this list of tips.