What Downton can teach us about estate and investment planning

Image source: PBS.org

Downton Abbey could serve as a case study in retirement, investment or estate planning. In fact, I was delighted to see that both Forbes and the Wall Street Journal have already weighed in on the money lessons to be gleaned from the show.  

Using scenarios from the first few seasons of the show, Forbes points out the lessons to be learned regarding poor investments, mismanaging an estate and the lure of Ponzi Schemes.  The Wall Street Journal highlights best practices for inheritance decisions (think up-to-date wills, medical directives and balancing the sentimental value with the cost of inheriting a money pit), the use (and misuse) of trusts to protect family fortunes, and the importance of a diverse investment portfolio.

Business assistance for local entrepreneurs

The Small Business Administration and Department of Labor have partnered on a new website to help states offer assistance to local entrepreneurs who want to start their own businesses.

The site is geared toward helping states take advantage of the $35 Million the federal government gave to states to implement Self-Employment Assistance programs to help those looking to create jobs in their communities.

These programs provide Unemployment Insurance recipients interested in starting a business with financial assistance, training and resources to get their businesses off the ground. Among the links to resources on the site, there is a link to the New York State fact sheet on how to apply for local assistance through this program.

Biz infographic of the week

Check out this great infographic of the ten most successful entrepreneurs under age 30.


Source: The 10 Biggest Entrepreneurs Under 30