Estate planning is about making sure your financial and personal wishes are respected—now and in the future. It helps you protect what you’ve built, support the people you care about, and reduce stress during life’s most difficult moments.
Whether you’re managing your own affairs or helping someone else, having a clear plan in place can make all the difference.
Estate planning is the process of organizing your financial and personal affairs so that others know what to do if you’re unable to manage them—or after you pass away.
A complete estate plan may include:
A will to outline how your estate should be distributed
A Financial Power of Attorney (POA) to let someone manage your finances if you can’t
A Personal Care POA to appoint someone to make health and personal care decisions
Trusts to help manage and protect assets for your beneficiaries
Without a plan, your loved ones may face confusion, delays, and legal costs. They may not know what you wanted—or how to help you. Estate planning helps:
Prevent financial abuse or fraud
Ensure your wishes are followed
Ease the burden on your family during a difficult time
If you don’t have a Financial POA and become incapacitated, your family may need to go to court just to pay your bills. A POA lets you choose someone you trust to step in when needed.
Estate planning is personal—but it’s also something worth talking about. Whether you’re planning for yourself or helping someone else, open conversations can help avoid misunderstandings later.
Here are a few questions to get started:
Do I have a will or POA—and is it up to date?
Have I told someone where to find my important documents?
Have I named someone to help with my finances or care if I need it?
Use The Record Keeper to track your accounts, contacts, and key paperwork.
This is someone your financial advisor can reach out to if they’re concerned about your well-being or financial decisions. Learn more.
Work with a lawyer to make sure your documents are legally valid and reflect your current wishes.
Life changes—your estate plan should too. Update it after major events like marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.