Don’t Let Estate Planning Overwhelm You

When I mention estate planning to friends, I almost always get the same response … a long sigh and then an excuse: “It’s just too overwhelming to think about!” People have that reaction for good reason. Most don’t know what an estate plan entails and they’re frightened by the prospect of doing it on their own. What they don’t realize is that estate planning can be relatively easy when you’re working with someone who can break it down for you.
 
When I talk to prospective clients, the first thing I do is help them gather the information they’ll need to make good decisions. Once we have that information in hand, I become more of a coach, helping them through a series of steps that keep them on track. The end result is a set of documents that clearly reflect your values and wishes so that your family and friends don’t have to guess about what you might want – something that would be challenging under any circumstances but especially hard when they’re also grieving.
 
Here are three simple things you can do to get started:

1. Make a list of the family and friends who are important to you, and put an asterisk next to the names of anyone you’d like to provide for after you’re gone.
2. Make a list of your assets – savings, personal and real property, investments and the like.
3. Think about the people you trust enough to make financial and health decisions for you.

 
Now you have a framework for working with an estate planner and creating an estate plan.

Please see: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dont-let-estate-planning-overwhelm-you-phyllis-a-oscar-esq-