5 Easy Steps to Estate Planning

January 10, 2024

Many people misunderstand estate planning or ignore it, which can result in expensive and time-consuming court cases after their death. In this article, your Fresno financial advisor will discuss how you may reduce taxes, if you make sure your assets are dispersed as per your intentions, and offer the best possible care for your loved ones by being proactive about estate planning.

Step 1:  Assessing Your Assets and Liabilities

Identifying your assets and obligations is the first stage in estate planning. This entails compiling an exhaustive list of all of your assets, including real estate, financial interests, and personal items. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of your financial status, it is crucial to collect all pertinent documentation, including retirement accounts, bank statements, investment portfolios, insurance policies, and property titles.

Step 2:  Creating a Will or Trust

Making a will or living trust is the next step after evaluating your assets and responsibilities. A will is a legal document that expresses your last desires for guardianship of young children, the division of your possessions, and other significant issues. However, a living trust enables you to transfer your assets to a trust while you are still alive. This can have a number of advantages, including preserving your privacy and avoiding probate.

Step 3:  Designating Beneficiaries and Powers of Attorney

Besides drafting a will or trust, naming beneficiaries and appointing powers of attorney are essential. The people who will inherit your possessions when you die away are known as beneficiaries. Be sure your choices are in accordance with your intentions by giving considerable thought to those you intend to name as beneficiaries.

Step 4:  Reviewing and Updating Your Plan Regularly

Making an estate plan is a continuous process. Laws and circumstances in life might change, so you might need to examine and revise your estate plan. It is important to periodically examine your strategy to make sure it still reflects your current desires and is current.

Step 5:  Seeking Professional Guidance

Even while you may draft a simple estate plan by yourself, it is strongly advised that you see an estate planning attorney for expert advice. A knowledgeable lawyer can guide you through the intricacies of estate planning, guarantee the legality of your paperwork, and offer tailored counsel depending on your particular situation.

Conclusion

Are you trying to find a financial advisor in Fresno? Look no further than Soutas Financial & Insurance Solutions Inc. your financial advisor in Fresno, Ca is committed to helping take the complexity out of retirement planning. By using a variety of insurance and investment strategies that focus on Asset Protection, Long-Term Care Strategies, Legacy Planning, Tax- Efficient Strategies IRA, 401(k) & 403(b) Rollovers, Life Insurance, Annuities, Medicare, we can help you develop an overall retirement income strategy specific to you and your family.

We have a strong team of professionals helping ensure you receive all the assistance you need not only in developing your retirement income strategy, but in maintaining it throughout your retirement. Contact us today at 559-230-1648 or visit us today at Soutas Financial to get your retirement plans on track for success!

Investment advisory services offered through Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. The commentary on this website reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the author, Soutas Financial, and should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC (“Foundations”), or performance returns of any Foundations client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security, or any security. Foundations manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Foundations deems reliable any statistical data or information obtained from or prepared by third party sources that is included in any commentary, but in no way guarantees its accuracy or completeness.

YOU HAVE A

DREAM.

LET'S MAKE A

PLAN.