Estate

Effective estate management enables you to manage your affairs during your lifetime and control the distribution of your wealth after death. An effective estate strategy can spell out your healthcare wishes and ensure that they're carried out – even if you are unable to communicate. It can even designate someone to manage your financial affairs should you be unable to do so.

Featured Video

Charitable Giving: Smart from the Heart

Do you have causes that you want to support with donations?

Estate Management 101

A will may be only one of the documents you need—and one factor to consider—when it comes to managing your estate.

Put It in a Letter

A letter of instruction provides additional and more personal information regarding your estate.

When Do You Need a Will?

When do you need a will? The answer is easy: Right Now.

• Articles

  Will Power

  Preparing for the eventual distribution of your assets may not sound enticing. But a will puts the power in your hands.

  Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs)

  Explaining Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) and their benefit to estate strategy.

  White Elephant Inheritance

  This article deals with how one might deal with a burdensome inheritance.

  Understanding the Alternate Valuation Date

  Executors can value the estate on the date of death, or on its six-month anniversary —the “Alternate Valuation Date."

  A Checklist for When a Spouse or Parent Passes

  An overview of some fundamental steps when a loved one passes.

  And the Executor Is

  The right executor may help ensure the distribution of your assets is done with as little upheaval as possible.

  View all articles

• Videos

  When Special Care Is Needed: The Special Needs Trust

  A special needs trust helps care for a special needs child when you’re gone.

  Safeguard Your Digital Estate

  If you died, what would happen to your email archives, social profiles and online accounts?

  When Do You Need a Will?

  When do you need a will? The answer is easy: Right Now.

  Exit Strategies of the Rich and Famous

  Estate conservation is too important to put off. Do you have a smart exit strategy?

  Estate Management 101

  A will may be only one of the documents you need—and one factor to consider—when it comes to managing your estate.

  4 Elements of an Estate Strategy

  Learn about the importance of having an estate strategy in this helpful and informative video.

  View all videos