ESTATE PLANNING

The death of a loved one is a time of extreme emotional upheaval. For your immediate family, the time of grieving is also the time when serious financial decisions must be made. Help your loved ones get through such an emotionally difficult time by having your affairs in order with the proper estate planning documents and instructions.

• Determine the amount of life insurance necessary to ensure that your loved ones are financially secure
• Develop an estate plan strategy that accurately reflects your distribution wishes so loved ones won't have to guess
• Determine the tax implications of current estate plans in place
• Explore possibilities for distributing assets before death
• Verify that beneficiary designations on assets such as life insurance and tax-deferred accounts reflect your current distribution plans
• Review wills, trusts and powers of attorney to verify that they are properly executed
• Review estate planning documents to verify that they do indeed reflect your current distribution wishes
• Determine the most appropriate survivor options for pensions and annuities
• Calculate whether estate taxes may be due upon death and explore strategies to defer, minimize or eliminate tax liabilities
• Create instructional documentation for loved ones to assist them in locating necessary documents and financial contact information