Don't Leave Your Estate Planning to Chance
Everyone has an estate, even if it is small. Think about the value
of everything you own - your home, bank accounts, personal property,
investments, maybe even a business. Anything of value is part of
your estate. If you don't have a plan to distribute these assets
after you are gone, they may not get where you want them to go,
and Uncle Sam may become your biggest heir.
Planning for Security and Peace of Mind
Estate planning is the process of making sure your heirs are protected
and your assets go where you want them to go at your death. It also
involves keeping the government's share as small as possible. You
can accomplish these goals by taking the time to plan your estate.
The following items can help:
- Have a will
which names your executor, specifies who will take care of any
dependent persons and passes your estate to your heirs.
- Consider
the use of a trust to relieve your heirs of the need to manage
larger amounts of assets and to keep your affairs private.
- Use life
insurance to pay estate expenses more efficiently, create liquid
assets for your beneficiaries, or benefit a favorite charity.
It's Never too Soon to Start
Life is full of twists, turns and surprises. That's why it's important
to make sure that things you value will be passed on to the people
you love - no matter what happens. It's never too soon to start
planning for the unexpected.
