This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express-News on September 29, 2015. First, have you and your husband tried marriage counseling? Leaving a marriage of 45 years is in itself traumatic, but will have far reaching financial and emotional impact. Counseling may help. Further, since your husband is partially motivated by his interpretation of religious text, it may help to talk with his pastor. If your husband’s perception of religious restrictions is inaccurate withi

This column first appeared in the San Antonio Express-News on  September 9, 2015. Whoa. Back up a step. I know you want to avoid estate tax, but there is no $30 million estate tax limit. Historically, assets valued at over $675,000 were subjected to a 50% estate tax after the second spouse died. Starting in 2000, Congress allowed the exemption to rise, first to $1 million and eventually to $3.5 million. In 2012, the exemption was raised to $5 million, and it has since been in