Domestic Partner Seminar

Topics will include:

• Planning as a process to strengthen relationships
• Domestic partnerships rather than a second marriage
• The basics: creating a will, health care directive, power of attorney, owning a home, bank accounts, and investing for retirement
• Prenups and postnups for domestic partners who have the option of getting married; domestic partner agreements for people who are prohibited from marriage, or who choose to not marry
• Health care issues and the need for health care directives
• Negotiating fair financial agreements while in love - rather then after
• Revocable trusts as a planning tool to care for loved ones and beyond
• Charitable Gift Planning
• Beneficiary designations - critical to domestic partners

A panel consisting of well known MPR voices Chris Farrell, Ruth Hayden, Ross Levin and panel member and lawyer Ann Viitala, will each make brief remarks about their perspective and wisdom as the result of advising folks in domestic partnerships followed by a Q&A session.

About Chris Farrell:
Christopher Farrell is economics editor of Marketplace Money, a nationally syndicated one-hour weekly personal finance show produced by American Public Media. Chris is also economics correspondent for Marketplace, the largest business program in broadcasting and chief economics correspondent for American RadioWorks, the largest producer of long-form documentaries in public radio. He is also contributing economics editor at Business Week magazine. He was host and executive editor of public television’s Right on the Money. He is the author of two books: Right on the Money: Taking Control of Your Personal Finances, and Deflation: What Happens When Prices Fall. Chris is a graduate of Stanford and the London School of Economics.

About Ruth Hayden:
Ruth Hayden is a nationally recognized financial consultant and educator. In 1982 she founded Ruth L. Hayden and Associates, Inc. She is the author of four books: For Richer Not Poorer, The Money Book for Couples; How To Turn Your Money Life Around, The Money Book for Women; Start Where You Are: Retirement Planning In A Changing World; Your Money Life: The Make-It-Work Workbook. She is a frequent guest on Public Radio.

About Ross Levin:
Ross Levin is the founding Principal of Accredited Investors, Inc. He launched the CCH Journal of Retirement Planning and served as Editor for two years. Mr. Levin speaks frequently to financial groups on issues such as the delivery of financial planning, helping clients reach their objectives, and asset management. A Carlson School graduate of the University of Minnesota, Mr. Levin is a nationally recognized expert in financial planning, appearing in numerous publications, including: The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Fortune, The New York Times, Newsweek, Money Magazine, as well as on television and radio shows nationally, such as NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, Oprah, CBS This Morning, and MPR's Sound Money.

About Ann Viitala:
Ms. Viitala is an attorney in private pactice and is the editor and a contributing author of "Estate Planning for Non-Traditional Families Deskbook" published by Minnesota CLE. Her estate planning practice consists primarily of people in "non-traditional families" including same-sex couples and other unmarried couples, single parents, and people in second and third marriages. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota Law School.