What are the Main Estate Planning Blunders to Avoid?

Maintaining a valid and current estate plan is vitally necessary in order to ensure the efficient and orderly dispersion of assets after a person dies. However, even a small mistake can create huge problems during the settlement process, and in many cases, these errors are impossible for anyone to correct.

Do I Need to Be Wealthy to Set Up a Trust?

If you’ve heard of trust funds but don’t know what they are or how they work, you’re not alone. Many people know just one key fact about trust funds: they’re set up by the ultra-wealthy as a way to protect passing on significant sums of money to family, friends or entities (charities, for example) after they pass away.

How Can I Make Changes to an Estate Plan?

Updating one’s estate planning documents involves changes to one’s trust, will and/or designation of death beneficiaries, as relevant. To be effective, such updates must be done correctly.

Failing to Plan for Life Events Could be a Big Mistake

It is estimated that more than 50 percent of all Americans don’t have a will, and in our Future File business, we have estimated that less than 10 percent of the U.S. population has a complete legacy and wishes planning system.

Include These Three Items in Your Will

A will or trust explains what you want to have happen to your assets when you die, hopefully in a very, very long time. While most people understand that a will explains what to do with money, property, and children, there are other parts you might be surprised by.

What Did Kobe Bryant Do for Estate Planning?

The list of wealthy black celebrities who have died without a will in place is a significant one. Names on the list include Prince, who died with a net worth of about $300 million without having a will. So did John Singleton, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix and the great Bob Marley, to name but a few.

Do Unmarried Couples Need Estate Planning?

Experts say that creating a plan for what happens to your estate — regardless of how meager or massive your assets — is key for unmarried couples who want their commitment to each other protected in the event of death.

When Selecting Beneficiaries Gets Overlooked

If you’ve ever spent time working through your estate plan with a professional, you know how important it is to select and update your beneficiaries. Failing to do so can result in costly mistakes—for you and your loved ones.