Estate Planning Basics
Related Estate Planning Basics Topics
Avoiding Probate
Digital Assets Estate Planning
Essential Estate Planning Strategies
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
Wills and Estate Planning
Found 175 Articles.
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Can Your Children Answer These 8 Estate Planning Questions?
Many estate plans fail, and often not because of any flaws in the documents or the plans. Estate planning failures frequently occur in the implementation and execution. Especially important are actions taken by others, often your children. They’re likely to be the ones putting key parts of the plan into action, not you. So to ensure […]
The Charitable Remainder Trust: How to Protect & Stretch Your IRA
The number of people naming charitable trusts as IRA beneficiaries is climbing, and for good reasons. Typically, IRA beneficiaries are individuals, often the surviving spouse or the adult children of the owner. The goal often is to create a Stretch IRA, with the beneficiary taking only required minimum distributions (RMDs) each year so the tax-deferred […]
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 […]