How Do You Ask Parents about Estate Planning?

Do you expect your parents to leave you a financial legacy? Nearly half of working-age Americans assume that they will receive an inheritance that will support them later in life, according to a survey by financial services company HSBC. Perhaps the bigger question, though, is how to even approach this topic with your parents.

What Basic Estate Planning Documents Do I Need?

At this stage of your life, preparing these must-have documents is one of the most profound acts of love that you can bestow. This paperwork can shield your family from needless heartache, hassle and expense.

Should I Let The State Write My Will?

Death is not a favorite conversation topic. However, we all know it is something we must at some point discuss. The loss of a close friend or family member, or an event, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, seems to bring the topic to the forefront.

Why Should I Think about My Death?

Talking about death makes most of us uncomfortable, so we don’t plan for it. That’s a big mistake, because if you don’t have an end-of-life plan, your state’s laws decide who gets everything you own. A doctor you’ve never met could decide how you spend your last moments, and your loved ones could be saddled with untangling an expensive legal mess after you die.

How Current is Your Estate Plan?

Most people do not update their estate plans often enough. The most common (and most absurd) excuse for not updating planning, that most advisers hear is: Nothing has changed.