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

When Special Care Is Needed: The Special Needs Trust

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

When Do You Need a Will?

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

4 Steps to Protecting a Child with Disabilities

Planning for a child with special needs can be complicated, confusing, and even overwhelming.

4 Elements of an Estate Strategy

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

• Articles

  When Heirs are Imperfect

  The money problems or bad lifestyle habits of adult children could lead to the squandering of any inheritance they receive.

  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."

  And the Executor Is

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

  Will Power

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

  A Brief History of Estate Taxes

  Federal estate taxes have long since been a lucrative source of funding for the federal government.

  Problems with Probate

  Probate can be a completely public process, or it can be managed to include as little information as possible.

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• Calculators

  Comparing Mortgage Terms

  Compare different mortgage term lengths side by side to find the option that fits your budget.

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• Videos

  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.

  When Special Care Is Needed: The Special Needs Trust

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

  Exit Strategies of the Rich and Famous

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

  Safeguard Your Digital Estate

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

  4 Elements of an Estate Strategy

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

  Charitable Giving: Smart from the Heart

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

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