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

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?

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."

Safeguard Your Digital Estate

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

• 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.

  Problems with Probate

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

  A Brief History of Estate Taxes

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

  And the Executor Is

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

  Estate Management Checklist

  Is your estate in order? This short quiz may help you assess your overall strategy.

  Will Power

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

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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

  When Special Care Is Needed: The Special Needs Trust

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

  4 Elements of an Estate Strategy

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

  Safeguard Your Digital Estate

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

  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.

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