Estate Planning
Securing the future
We work closely with estate planning professionals to preserve your estate for your intended heirs.
Effective estate management enables you to manage your affairs during your lifetime and control the distribution of your wealth after death. An effective estate strategy can spell out your healthcare wishes and ensure that they’re carried out – even if you are unable to communicate. It can even designate someone to manage your financial affairs should you be unable to do so.
Protecting the future of your estate
Estate planning does not focus only on what happens to your wealth after death, but more importantly it helps you with planning your future and decisions that will have to be made as you age. There are assets that protect your heirs from probate and they include property held in a trust, jointly held property that isn’t common property, death benefits from insurance policies, property given before you dies, assets in a pay-on-death account and retirement account with a named beneficiary.
Consider a living will, tax exception strategies, living trust, and a power of attorney as a part of your estate planning.
Starting Point
Do you have a will?
A will enables you to specify who you want to inherit your property and other assets. A will also enable you to name a guardian for your minor children.
Do you have healthcare documents in place?
Healthcare documents spell out your wishes for health care if you become unable to make medical decisions for yourself. They also authorize a person to make decisions on your behalf if that should prove necessary. These documents may include a living will, a power of attorney agreement, and a durable power of attorney agreement for healthcare.
Do you have financial documents in place?
Certain financial documents can outline your financial wishes. If you become unable to make decisions for yourself, these financial documents can be structured to empower a person to make decisions on your behalf. These documents may include joint ownership, durable power of attorney, and living trusts.
Have you filed beneficiary forms?
In some cases, naming a beneficiary for bank accounts and retirement plans makes these accounts “payable on death” to your beneficiaries. In other cases, you will need to fill out a “Payable on Death” form.
Do you have the right amount and type of life insurance?
When was the last time you assessed your life insurance coverage? Have you compared the life insurance benefit with your financial obligations? Keep in mind that several factors will affect the cost and availability of life insurance, including age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Life insurance policies have expenses, including mortality and other charges. If a policy is surrendered prematurely, the policyholder may also pay surrender charges and have income tax implications. You should consider determining whether you are insurable before implementing a strategy involving life insurance. Any guarantees associated with a policy are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments.
Have you taken steps to manage your federal estate tax?
If you and your spouse have more than $27.22 million in assets (for 2024), you may want to consider taking steps to manage federal estate taxes, which will be due at the second spouse’s death.
Have you taken steps to protect your business?
Do you have a succession plan? If you own a business with others, you may also want to consider a buyout agreement.
Have you created a letter of instruction?
A letter of instruction is a non-legal document that outlines your wishes. A strong, well-written letter may save your heirs time, effort, and expense as they administer your estate.
Will your heirs be able to locate your critical documents?
Your heirs may need access to the specific documents you have created to manage your estate. These documents may include:
- Your will
- Trust documents
- Life insurance policies
- Deeds to any real estate, and certificates for stocks, bonds, annuities
- Information on your financial accounts and safe deposit boxes
- Information on your retirement plans
- Information on any debts you have: credit cards, mortgages, and loans.
Ready To Start
Put a century of combined experience to work and reach out to our team to help you with your financial future.