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CURIOSIT Y MAY KILL THE CAT, BUT UNA SKED QUESTIONS ARE MURDER ON AN ESTATE PL AN. PHYSICIAN FAMILY FINANCIAL ADVISORS, based in Eugene, Oregon, urges physicians to get recommendations for an estate- planning attorney from their fi nancial adviser or tax preparer, then ask specifi c questions and probe the attorney's views on a series of subjects. The candidate's answers to questions such as those below will not only provide basic information but also illuminate his or her overall approach. Ask about the value of a revocable living trust, Physician Family Financial Advisors recommends on its website. While answers may vary, a response that doesn't include a discussion of the administrative burden involved in trusts could be a red fl ag. Find out how much estate planning will cost. Ironica lly, although the goal is to secure your fi nances to benefi t family and, perhaps, charities, questions about costs can be uncomfortable. It's better to deal with the discomfort early, however, than to be surprised later. Ask if the attorney has clients who have been sued for malprac- tice. An attorney who has helped a physician make it through a di cult lawsuit probably has a good grasp of how to protect clients' assets. Determine how often the attorney believes you should interact with him or her. "Idea lly, physicians would consult their estate planners every time they take title to property or an account, especially if the doctor's estate plan involves a trust," Physician Family Financial Advisors notes. ■ CURIOSIT Y MAY KILL THE CAT, BUT UNA SKED QUESTIONS Hiring an Estate-Planning Attorney: The Interview BY STEVE BARRETT CORE WHEN YOU DO AS MANY HAND SURGERIES AS WE DO, YOU OFFER THE NEWEST, MOST ADVANCED WAYS TO TREAT THEM. With the largest orthopedic and sports medicine physician practice in Suffolk County, St. Charles has been recognized as one of the best in the region for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report. Not just once but several times. No surprise. After all, we deliver the region's most progressive treatments, including minimally invasive hand surgery as well as arthroscopic surgery for elbow and wrist disorders. You can count on the fingers of one hand the number of hospitals that do more minimally invasive hand and elbow surgeries than we do. Our goal? To get you back to your normal life as quickly as possible. And many of the patients who've experienced our expert hand care, give it a resounding thumbs up. IF YOU HAVE CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME, OSTEOARTHRITIS OR TENDINITIS WE'RE HERE FOR YOU. To learn more call (631) 689-6698 or visit stcharlesorthopedics.com F I N A N C E 1 7