Estate Planning Edition

Estate Planning

Learn the essentials of wills, trusts, and planning for later-life finances.

Updated daily · 16 stories

Home›Finance & Benefits›Estate Planning
Common Beliefs About Wills That Turn Out to Be Wrong
Estate Planning · Featured

Common Beliefs About Wills That Turn Out to Be Wrong

By Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 6 min read
Estate Planning Estate Planning After a Major Life Change

Estate Planning After a Major Life Change

Marriage, divorce, a death in the family, or a new grandchild can all render an existing plan outdated. Learn which life…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 6 min
Estate Planning Estate Planning Documents Every Senior Should Have in Place

Estate Planning Documents Every Senior Should Have in Place

From a healthcare directive to a durable power of attorney, this reference covers the key legal documents that form a co…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 6 min
Estate Planning Estate Planning Explained: What Seniors Actually Need to Know

Estate Planning Explained: What Seniors Actually Need to Know

A plain-language overview of estate planning essentials—wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and why having a plan matters…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 9 min
Estate Planning Estate Planning Vocabulary: A Senior-Friendly Glossary

Estate Planning Vocabulary: A Senior-Friendly Glossary

Executor, beneficiary, probate, intestate—estate planning has a language of its own. Look up the terms you'll encounter …

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 5 min
Estate Planning Getting Your Estate Plan Started: A Practical Walkthrough

Getting Your Estate Plan Started: A Practical Walkthrough

Not sure where to begin? This step-by-step walkthrough covers how to take stock of your assets, choose the right documen…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 7 min
Estate Planning How to Talk to Your Family About Your Estate Plan

How to Talk to Your Family About Your Estate Plan

Sharing your wishes with adult children and loved ones can prevent disputes and confusion later. Practical guidance on h…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 6 min
Estate Planning Leaving a Legacy: Charitable Giving Through Your Estate

Leaving a Legacy: Charitable Giving Through Your Estate

Charitable bequests, donor-advised funds, and charitable remainder trusts are tools that can align your estate with caus…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 8 min
Estate Planning Planning for a Blended Family: Estate Considerations Worth Knowing

Planning for a Blended Family: Estate Considerations Worth Knowing

Blended families introduce competing interests among spouses, stepchildren, and biological heirs. Here's how estate plan…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 9 min
Estate Planning Power of Attorney vs. Guardianship: Which One Protects You Better?

Power of Attorney vs. Guardianship: Which One Protects You Better?

Both legal tools address decision-making when someone can't act for themselves—but they differ significantly in cost, co…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 6 min
Estate Planning Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts: Choosing the Right Structure

Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts: Choosing the Right Structure

Trusts aren't one-size-fits-all. Understand the flexibility, tax implications, and asset protection differences between …

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 6 min
Estate Planning The Full Picture: Estate Planning from First Document to Final Settlement

The Full Picture: Estate Planning from First Document to Final Settlement

A comprehensive resource covering every stage of estate planning—from drafting core documents to funding a trust, naming…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 8 min
Estate Planning What Happens to Your Assets When There Is No Will

What Happens to Your Assets When There Is No Will

Dying intestate means the state decides who inherits your estate. Here's how intestacy laws generally work and why many …

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 7 min
Estate Planning What a Living Trust Can and Cannot Do for Your Family

What a Living Trust Can and Cannot Do for Your Family

Living trusts are widely recommended but often misunderstood. This balanced look covers their genuine benefits alongside…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 5 min
Estate Planning Why Estate Plans Go Wrong—and How to Keep Yours on Track

Why Estate Plans Go Wrong—and How to Keep Yours on Track

Outdated beneficiary designations, unfunded trusts, and missing signatures are among the errors that undo even well-inte…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 6 min
Estate Planning Wills and Trusts: Understanding the Core Difference

Wills and Trusts: Understanding the Core Difference

Wills and trusts both transfer assets, but they work very differently. Learn how each one functions and what each one ca…

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team · 5 min

Top writers in Estate Planning

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team

Finance & Benefits Editorial Team

Staff Writer