Estate Planning

Have you thought about the end of your life and how to handle your assets after you’re gone? Estate planning covers a wide range of important topics, including financial power of attorney, health care proxy, beneficiaries, probate, wills, trusts, executors and estate and inheritance taxes.

Adult daughter hugging her mother while they cook together and discuss a prepaid funeral

What is a Prepaid Funeral?

Prepaid funerals are financial arrangements allowing individuals to plan and pay for their funeral services in advance. This proactive approach helps reduce the burden on loved ones during a time of grief, ensuring wishes are honored without added financial stress.

Elderly couple speaking with a financial professional about what the different types of trusts are

Understanding the Different Types of Trusts

Trusts are key to estate planning, offering flexibility to manage and protect assets while passing wealth to beneficiaries. Learn about the various types and their unique benefits.

5 Considerations When Leaving Money to Grandchildren

When leaving money to grandchildren, consider setting up a trust, distributing assets based on need, understanding tax implications, reviewing beneficiary forms, and ensuring your financial needs are prioritized.

A mature couple discusses their living trust while cooking dinner

What Is a Living Trust?

A living trust is a legal arrangement created during a person's lifetime to hold and manage their assets, providing control, flexibility, and the ability to avoid probate.

volunteers take donations on a sunny day in a park and discuss financial advantages of a charitable trust

What Is a Charitable Trust?

A Charitable Trust allows you to benefit yourself, your beneficiaries, and a charity simultaneously, offering financial advantages for those with nonessential assets like stocks or real estate.

Family eating outside estate planning for parents how I helped my parents with their legacy

Estate Planning for Elderly Parents: Help Secure Their Legacy

Estate planning for elderly parents helps manage assets and health directives, ensuring their wishes are honored and legacy protected while reducing family disputes and helping secure financial stability.

A multi-generational family in the woods after discussing what to do with an inheritance

What to Do With an Inheritance: A 6-Step Checklist

Take your time, consider your financial goals, plan investments wisely, allocate some for personal spending, prepare your estate plan, and consult a financial professional to make the most of an inheritance.

Senior couple riding a bike on a sunny day

Will vs. Trust: How Are They Different & Do You Need Both?

A will is a legal document that outlines how a person's assets will be distributed after their death, while a trust is a legal arrangement where a trustee manages assets for the benefit of beneficiaries, with greater flexibility and potential tax benefits than a will.

Husband and wife enjoying coffee at home discussing a health care proxy vs. power of attorney

What's the Difference Between a Health Care Proxy vs. Power of Attorney?

A health care proxy specifically grants authority for someone to make health care decisions on your behalf, while a power of attorney grants authority for someone to handle your financial matters and make decisions on your behalf.

Senior woman leaning on a fence, looking out over a field and wondering is probate necessary

Is Probate Necessary for All Wills?

Probate is not necessary for all wills; whether probate is required or not depends on the circumstances, such as the type of assets and estate planning arrangements in place.

Mother and grandmother holding a baby outside and talking about what a spendthrift trust is

What Is a Spendthrift Trust?

A spendthrift trust is a type of trust that helps protect assets for beneficiaries who may be prone to overspending or facing potential creditors, allowing a trustee to control withdrawals and safeguard the funds.

What Happens If I Die Without a Will?

If you don't have a will, here are some of the common ways your assets may be distributed without your written instructions.

Multiple generations sitting on a couch discussing estate tax vs. inheritance tax

What's the Difference Between Estate Tax & Inheritance Tax?

Estate tax is paid by the deceased person's estate on the net value of their assets, while inheritance tax is paid by beneficiaries on the assets they receive from the estate, with estate taxes going to the government and inheritance taxes going to state governments (in certain states).