Estate Planning

Estate planning is the process of making arrangements for how an individual’s assets should be distributed after their death. Typically, the goals of estate planning are to maximize the benefits to beneficiaries, minimize taxes and expenses, and ensure that the deceased individual’s wishes are known and carried out. 

Estate planning often involves professional counsel or services from lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, estate planners, insurance advisors, and more. 

Estate plans can range in complexity based on a person’s amount of wealth and other assets, family structure, and many other factors. A typical estate plan will include, at minimum: 

• A will and/or trust stating how a person’s assets should be distributed at death
• Powers of attorney documents appointing someone to make financial and healthcare decisions in the event the person becomes incapacitated
• Beneficiary designations for assets like retirement accounts and insurance policies
• Guardianship designations for minor children
• A letter of intent detailing things like distribution of personal belongings, explanation of estate planning decisions, funeral preferences, or anything else the individual wishes to convey to their loved ones, trustees, etc.