Essential Estate Planning Strategies
Related Essential Estate Planning Strategies Topics
Avoiding Probate
Digital Assets Estate Planning
Estate Planning Basics
Estate Planning Checklists
Estate Planning Forms and Documents
Estate Planning Strategy
Estate Tax and Gifts
Grandchildren & Beneficiaries
Heirs & Estate Planning
IRAs & Your Estate
Life Insurance and Estate Planning
Power of Attorney
Trustees and Executors
Trusts
What is Estate Planning
Wills and Estate Planning
Found 117 Articles.
Get access to 290 articles by subscribing to Retirement Watch and Retirement Watch Spotlight Series.
The “Financial Emergency Kit” Every Estate Planing Strategy Needs (Part 2)
In Part 1 of this article I talked about the importance of having a Financial Emergency Kit, along with a few of its essential elements. So this week, let’s continue the discussion and review the other important elements that make up your Financial Emergency Kit, starting with: A letter of instruction, which can be valuable […]
The Financial Emergency Kit: How to Build a Complete Estate Planning Strategy
Many people think they have estate plans… but oftentimes it turns out they really don’t. I’m not talking about those who haven’t done any planning and don’t even have a basic will. I’m talking about people who have taken action on their estate plans — and yet have plans that are woefully incomplete. You see, […]
Estate Planning Without Wills & Trusts – Part 2
In Part 1 of this article, I shared some of the avenues through which you can ensure transfer of assets without the need for wills and trusts. So this week, let’s continue the discussion with more ways to avoid probate and transfer property… starting with: Bank accounts. Though once obscure, payable on death (POD) bank accounts […]
How to Manage Your Estate Planning without Wills & Trusts
You might be surprised to learn that many Estate Planning goals can be accomplished without wills and trusts. In fact, using other tools can spare you some of the expense and complications of wills and trusts. These strategies also cause the assets to avoid the delay and expense of probate, transferring the title of each […]
Estate Planning to Improve Your Financial Power of Attorney
It’s one of the most overlooked and understated pieces in most peoples’ estate plans… The Power of Attorney. And it’s so much more than simply deciding who manages your affairs when you can’t. So today let’s review more tips on how to navigate this vital step in the estate planning process. Which actions can the […]
Power of Attorney: The Most Important Document in Your Estate Plan
The financial Power of Attorney (POA) could be the most important document in your estate plan. Yet, many people don’t have one. And many people who do have a power of attorney didn’t give it much thought and have inadequate documents. Adverse results can range from bills not being paid on time to trusted people […]
Managing the Key Players in Your Estate Planning Strategy
In last week’s story, we reviewed the major potential “surrogates” in estate plans (the agents, trustees, executors, and others). Today we offer some pointers for reducing problems you may face with surrogate designations. Know all the surrogates you designated Review financial accounts, insurance policies, and estate planning documents to be sure you know who currently […]
The #1 Rule to Follow in Your Estate Planning
There’s a time bomb ticking in many estate plans, possibly even in yours. You likely won’t even know if the bomb goes off… or, for that matter, how big the explosion will be. You see, the “bomb” is the person — or people — you name to act for you. Whether they act during your […]