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Community property is a legal concept that applies in certain U.S. states. In simple terms, it means any assets or debts acquired during a marriage are considered equally owned by both spouses—no matter who earned it or whose name is on the title. This rule applies in nine states (known as “community property states”): Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. A few others (like Alaska) allow couples to opt in.

Tenancy in Common is a way for two or more people to own property together. Each person owns a share of the property, but those shares don’t have to be equal. One person could own 50%, another 30%, and another 20%. The key here? Each person’s share is individually owned—meaning they can sell, gift, or will their portion to someone else without needing the others’ approval.

Definition: Joint Tenancy is a form of ownership where two or more people hold equal shares in an asset—usually real estate. The defining feature? Right of survivorship. That means if one owner passes away, their share automatically transfers to the remaining owner(s), bypassing probate.

modify, amend, or cancel it—except under very rare circumstances and usually only with court approval or the beneficiaries’ consent. This is the key difference from a Revocable Trust, which you can tweak or dissolve whenever you like. With an irrevocable trust, the assets are no longer legally yours—they belong to the trust, managed by a trustee for the benefit of your chosen beneficiaries.

A revocable trust, sometimes called a living trust, is a legal arrangement where you place your assets (like your home, investments, or bank accounts) into a trust during your lifetime. You still get to control and use those assets while you’re alive. And because it’s revocable, you can change it, update it, or even cancel it entirely if your circumstances or intentions change. In plain English? It’s like setting up a box where you put your stuff, but you still hold the keys

A Health Care Proxy is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf if you're unable to speak for yourself due to illness or injury. This person—called your health care agent—steps in when you’re unconscious, mentally incapacitated, or otherwise unable to communicate your wishes.

A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) is a legal document that gives someone else (your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") the authority to act on your behalf if you become mentally or physically unable to handle your own affairs. The word “durable” means it stays in effect even if you become incapacitated.

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives someone you trust the authority to act on your behalf in financial, legal, or medical matters—either temporarily or permanently. This trusted person is called your “agent” or “attorney-in-fact”

Probate is the legal process by which a deceased person’s will is validated, and their assets are distributed to heirs and beneficiaries. If there’s no will, the court appoints an administrator and distributes the assets according to state law.

Inheritance refers to the money, property, or assets that a person leaves to their heirs when they pass away. It’s often distributed according to the instructions in a will or through state laws if no will exists.

A beneficiary is a person (or entity) who is legally entitled to receive money, property, or other benefits from a financial product, legal agreement, or estate after someone dies or when certain conditions are met.

An executor is the person named in your will to manage your estate after you pass away. Their job? Handle your final financial affairs—think debts, taxes, and dividing up your assets to the people (or causes) you care about.

If you're financially savvy, disciplined, and playing the long game, here's a 4-step credit strategy that’s less about spending and more about positioning yourself for financial leverage.

The poor and middle class often struggle not just because of external forces but because they lack the knowledge to effectively manage and grow their wealth. The solution? Learning to Speak the Language of Money ...

Investing on autopilot removes the guesswork and emotional decision-making that causes many investors to lose money.

The richest people in the world follow structured, repeatable systems that ensure their money works for them 24/7.

When you invest in an index fund, you’re essentially buying tiny pieces of all the companies in that index.

FDIC insurance is like a safety net for money. It's a government-backed guarantee that protects your deposits if your bank goes belly up.

Peer-to-Peer lending is a method of debt financing that enables individuals to borrow and lend money without traditional banking methods.

An Exchange-Traded Fund, or ETF, is a type of investment fund and exchange-traded product, meaning it is traded on stock exchanges.