How Planning Your Estate Can Help You Prepare for the Future
March 16, 2023
March 16, 2023
During your life you will likely accumulate money, property and other items of value—these are your assets. Taken together, these assets — also known as your estate — paint a picture of the wealth you’ve built over time. And rather than lose all you’ve built when you die, planning your estate ahead of time can help you preserve your wealth by transferring your assets to your children or other beneficiaries.
Estate planning refers to the process of deciding where and how assets are distributed once the original asset holder is incapacitated or has passed away. Typically, the process involves professional advisors such as your lawyer, accountant, financial planner and others.
You have spent a lifetime building wealth; planning your estate helps you protect it. Estate planning can help you define your legacy on your terms by determining when and how to transfer wealth or assets to your beneficiaries and by preparing for the unexpected.
To start the estate planning process, determine who you want to protect, what you want to protect and the legacy you plan to leave. You should gather and store all essential documents in a safe location. This includes legal documents and other important papers.
Legal documents:
Other important papers:
Although estate planning requirements can vary by state, ensuring you have these documents safe and accessible will make it easier to transfer your estate when the time comes.
Once you’ve decided to create an estate plan and gathered all important documents, it’s time to contact a trusted advisor to create your will or trust — if you don’t already have one — and set your power of attorney. You can contact legal and financial professionals who specialize in estate planning, and/or learn more about legal service benefits from your employer.
There are several affordable options available: